By Abubakar Adamu Kuta
Niger State Government has graduated Three Hundred and Seventy Six youths trained in Briquette Making and Borehole Repairs held in Kontagora Local Government Area of the State recently.
In his address, Director General, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Mohammed Yakubu Bashar Harka said the first goal of the SDGs was the fight against Poverty stressing that the event was a deliberate effort of the administration under the leadership of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello to empowering the youths to be self reliant.
He underscored the importance of skills and youth empowerment stressing that the training exercise encapsulated Four, out of the Seventeen Global Goals of the SDGs including Zero poverty, Clean Water and Sanitation, Zero hunger and Climate Action as well as Parnership for the Goals.
“We are very mindful of the fact that Youth are the backbone of any society and they must be empowered in productive activities. That is why we are grateful to Governor Abubakar Sani Bello for giving us the support and resources to carry out this project” DG said.
Bashar Harka further disclosed that the SDGs was working assiduously to hold a training programme for over 500 women in soap making, spaghetti production and vaseline.
Director General urged the beneficiaries not to dispose the items emphasising that they must make judicious use of the starter packs presented to them in order to create wealth that will be beneficial not only to them but the society as a whole.
In his goodwill message, the Chairman of Kontagora Local Government Council, represented by Hon. Shehu Musa Kwazo commended the leadership of the SDGs for the initiative.
He assured the SDGs of the Council’s unflinching support.
Earlier, the Director General flagged off repairs and maintenance of One Hundred and Seventy Four handpump boreholes in the Niger North Senatorial District (Zone C).
President of the Amalgamation of SDGs Borehole Maintenance (ASBM), Comrade Ahmed Sarki Chukuba appreciated the state government for providing enabling environment for the training and graduation exercise.
He explained that the only way to reciprocate the kind gesture of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello was to embark on borehole repairs and maintenance across the Eighty Seven wards in Zone C as a way of supporting the Governor’s Niger North Senatorial ambition.
The beneficiaries who were drawn from the Eighty Seven wards of the Zone, were grouped in clusters and presented with starter packs including Briquette Production machines and Borehole Repair kits.
