No fewer than 1850 youths benefited from another round of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s empowerment programme, just as 150 automobile mechanics sponsored by Kano state government graduated from Peugeot Automobile of Nigeria (PAN) Training School, Kaduna.
Ganduje also vowed to ensure that over one million youths are empowered by his administration before the end of his first tenure.
He spoke during the graduation ceremony, inauguration and empowerment of over 1850 youths in Kano Government House.
According to him, the empowerment programme was part of his administration’s determination to fight poverty, youth restiveness and growing unemployment in the country.
He further stated that Kano state Government under his administration has made huge investment in youth empowerment, skills acquisition and training in various aspects of artisanship, technology, automobile mechanics, as well as different trades that can make them self-reliant and carter for themselves, their families, and also become employers of labour.
The Nation reports that 150 youths, including 100 males and 50 females, who underwent one-year training at the Peugeot Automobile of Nigeria (PAN), Kaduna, under the auspices of Ganduje Automechanic Engineering Training (GAMET), were handed over modern mechanic tools and N50, 000 cash each as take-off capital, during the occasion.
This is just as another 200, including 150 male and 50 female, of the GAMET third batch were given admission letters for another round of one year training at PAN Learning Centre, Kaduna.
Ganduje also distributed empowerment kits and N10, 000 each to 540 trained vulcanizers, as well as 440 tricycle mechanics who were empowered through the State Committee on Empowerment.
Mores so, Governor Ganduje handed over working tools and N30, 000 each cash donation to 300 youths trained in different skills by Kano state Government in collaboration with the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP) and the Industrial Training Fund (ITF).
He charged the graduands to make good use of the opportunity afforded to them, hinted that already, the first batch of 72 youths trained by PAN under GAMET, are already gainfully employed, employing other youths in their various workshops located within their localities.
He further stated that over N420 million has been set aside for the one year programme of the third batch of 200 youths who are billed to be trained by PAN Training Centre, for their feeding, accommodation and other logistics.
According to him, “being fully aware of the status of Kano as the most populous state in the country, my administration has decided to engage in continuous economic empowerment of youths for a better tomorrow.
“We have continuously engaged our youths in self-reliant programmes in the field of agriculture, information technology, education, among other areas that can make them responsible and good ambassadors of Kano state.”
He added that already, his administration has built 10 units of workshops in each of the three senatorial zones to accommodate the graduating automobile mechanics from PAN.
In his speech during the occasion, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chief Chris Ngige, who was represented by Alhaji Ibrahim Jibiya, commended Ganduje for his giant strides in youth development and empowerment.
According to him, “His Excellency, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje is a youth-friendly governor. It is only in Kano that President Muhammadu Buhari’s empowerment policies have been fully achieved. I commend Governor Ganduje for involving both men and women in his empowerment programmes. Also, I commend PAN for partnering with Kano state government to make this a reality.”
Also speaking, Speaker of Kano state House of Assembly, Kabiru Alhasan Rurum commended Governor Ganduje for his efforts in empowering the youths, promising that the House will speedily pass the 2019 appropriation bill before 29 December, to enable Ganduje continue with the good work he is doing in Kano state.
The Managing Director of PAN, Malam Ibrahim Boyi, said PAN was proud to collaborate with Kano state government to ensure empowerment of youths.
According to him, “On behalf of PAN,I congratulate Governor Ganduje for the successful graduation of the second batch of this GAMET youth empowerment progarmme.
“Ganduje is the champion of youth empowerment in Nigeria. Little wonder his youth empowerment programmes has earned him covetous awards, not only in Nigeria but globally. I seize this opportunity to appeal to other state Governors to emulate what Ganduje is doing in Kano.”
The chairman of Kano State Empowerment Committee who doubles as the Commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba said, “the GAMET empowerment project is one of the most important empowerment programmes of the state government. It is a one year programme of both practical and academic training. I am also happy to announce that these graduands at the end of the day would be issued with London City and Guilds Certificate.”