The Federal Government and the Ondo State Government have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for training 900 youths in the state under the ‘At-Risk Children Programme’.
Those to be empowered included commercial sex workers, drug-addicted youths, out-of-school children, and children with special needs, among others.
Under the arrangement, the Federal Government would feed and pay stipends to the beneficiaries while the state government provides the data, accommodation and other logistics.
Speaking to journalists in Akure, Special Adviser to President Mohammadu Buhari on Social Investment, Maryam Uwais, said the federal government refused to engage states that demanded for money to key into the project.
Uwais said the aim is to create competence and capacity at the community level.
She said the programme was designed to address challenges of children and youths who have been marginalised and not be able to engage with the support government can give.
Uwais noted that general conversation about improving infrastructure, training teacher and improved resources only impact children within the system.
She said, “We are trying to leverage what exists in Ondo State. They signed an MOU with us to do certain things; they want us to complement their effort.
“We didnt engage states who demanded for money. It is more than money. It is passion. It is about wanting to do the right thing for people who are entitled.
“It is a separate conversation to empower children who are not within the system or youths who have dropped out of school, children with special needs, commercial sex workers. They deserve support as all of us.”