Their journey to self-employment started on November 26, 2013 when they had their first shot at skills training across various centres in the state. No fewer than 7600 women and youths from the 255 political wards in Kaduna State were trained in vocations and trades using the state’s share of the 2012 Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P) funds.
Many applaud the jobs scheme.
Beneficiaries are in three different groups: women, youths and agriculture. In the agriculture category, beneficiaries are trained in such areas as production of maize, rice, cassava, sugar cane, ginger; fishery, cattle rearing, bee keeping, sheep and goat rearing, piggery and poultry.
The youths on the other hand are trained in aluminum works, block making, bricklaying and masonry, fish processing, GSM repair, honey processing, animal husbandry, leather works, photography, plumbing works, and printing.
The women are benefiting from training in such areas as Beauty and Cosmetology; hairdressing; tie and dye; Catering and Event management; Fish processing; Rice milling; Vegetable processing.
The government, according to Governor Yero, spent about N139 million on the training.
With the training concluded, it was time for the government to make good its promise of setting them up. For Yero, it does not make sense for the government to stop at giving them the required skill without giving them the matching grant to set themselves up and move on in life. But he was not unaware of the fact that some of the beneficiaries may not be too disposed to setting up a business. So, rather than give them money, the government decided to purchase items needed by each one of them and present same to them with an additional N10,000 as take-off grant. He however warned them not to sell the items as government was putting in place mechanism to monitor and ensure that the money invested was not wasted.
Governor Yero, who supervised the distribution of the items, said that the government supports the trainee graduates in meeting the critical requirement of seed capital for starting viable businesses that will contribute to the rapid economic development of the state and reduce unemployment.
He noted that “the trainings conducted under the various trades were rigorous and in-depth. At the outset we were unequivocal in emphasising, that only training institutions and firms with demonstrable competences in the business will be engaged in the youth trainings. Our insistence was to ensure effective transfer of technology to trainees for maximum benefits. Based on the briefings, I have received on the Youth Empowerment Training, it is heart-warming to note that participants exhibited high sense of discipline and commitment throughout the period of the training. With the level of enthusiasm our youth have displayed thus far, I am confident that the programme will achieve its set objectives. I therefore urge all the trainees to continue to behave responsibly in all your future endeavours”. The governor announced that each of the trainees would receive Starter Packs relevant to his/her trade in addition to take off grant of the sum of N10,000.
The governor noted that his administration was determined to continue to “accord priority attention to skills acquisition, as well as training and retraining of our youths for the economic benefit of our dear state. The objectives of this approach are to stimulate the economy of our state through creation of massive employment opportunities for our people and reduce poverty. In this regards, we have concluded plans to engage 2,550 youths using our 2013 SURE-P funds. These youth would be drawn from the 255 wards across the State with 40% of them to be women. They would provide Community Development services within their respective wards in the areas of sanitisation of major roads and public institutions, provision of security, control of human and vehicular traffic especially during occasion and public functions, sensitization/enlightenment, advocacy on peace etc. They would be paid an allowance of N10, 000 monthly with effect from April, 2014. In the same vein, the state will collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Finance to enable 2000 unemployed graduates of our State to participate in the Federal Government SURE-P Community Services, Women and Youth Programme scheme on Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS). Under this programme, each participating graduate will receive an allowance of N30,000 from the Federal Government and a stipend of N10, 000 from the state totalling N40, 000.00 monthly. It may also interest you to note that the State and the Bank of Agriculture have jointly set aside the sum of N500 million each (amounting to N1 billion) to disburse as loans to small scale farmers. In addition to this, a similar funding arrangement with the Bank of Industry provides another N1 billion to be disbursed to Small Scale Businesses/ Entrepreneurs in the State”.
The governor noted that “we are doing all these to assist our people with the requisite seed capital to kick start their businesses to stimulate the much needed productive economic activities to raise the standards of living and ultimately increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of our dear State. As pioneers of a novel initiative of this administration, I urge you to use the skills you have acquired during this training programme for the benefit of not only yourself and immediate family but to the good of the entire people of our state. You must not sell the starter packs given to you as doing so will defeat the essence of this programme. The State Government will put in place a monitoring and supervisory mechanism for regular and sustained visits to all the places of your business to ensure that you are effectively utilising the resources placed at your disposal. The success of this programme lies on your shoulders. If you succeed, it would be a source of encouragement to us as we firmly believe that programmes of this sort will go a long way in taking youths off the streets thereby enhancing the security and wellbeing of our people”.
The state deputy governor who doubles as the chairman of the SURE-P implementation committee, Ambassador Nuhu Audu Bajoga said that the programme is significant as it seeks to provide youths and other vulnerable groups in the state with gainful self-employable skills to raise the quality of their lives through employment generation and wealth creation. He said further that the SURE-P Implementation Committee has ensured that in line with directives from the governor, beneficiaries of the Agriculture, Youth and Women Empowerment Schemes were selected devoid of partisan or parochial considerations. He said: “I can dare say without fear of contradiction that the Kaduna State Government has been the most forthcoming in effectively and efficiently utilizing its SURE-P funds, by investing in critical areas of infrastructural development as well as welfare of citizens of the State. Let me seize this opportunity to call on the beneficiaries of the various empowerment schemes to pay attention to the training that will be offered, by being prompt and attentive at the training centres for effective learning. The training consultants selected are also knowledgeable and competent to execute the task. The Consultants are therefore enjoined to ensure that they live up to expectations for the overall success of the programme”.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke with The Nation thanked the government for the opportunity given to them to learn a trade. Ruth Daniel who was trained in hair dressing was elated that the government was giving her what she needs to start her trade. She said “I am very happy that the government has decided to give us these facilities to start. I am going to get a shop and start business and I am sure that what I will be making from there will be enough to sustain me and help my family. I have always wanted to start something of my own, but I didn’t have the money to pay for my training. Now, the government paid for it and even gave us all that we need to start. I am very grateful to the government for this opportunity”.
Like 182 other women and girls, Ruth got a starter pack worth N85,575. Items in the starter packs are: one standing dryer, one hand dryer, a set of roller packs, a set of relaxer, a plastic washing basin, 30 litres water container, a wall dressing mirror, an electric kettle, one dressing comb, one full pack og threads and needles, round trolley and N10,000 take-off grant.
On his part, Gabriel Peter who was trained along side 190 others and received a starter pack worth N293, 500 said he was elated to be in business, pointing out that before the items were given to them, he has already secured a shop where he will be operating from. He received items such as Exposure Machine for making plates, Light table used for laying films, washing tray and Generator set from the government.
