By: John Bassey.
The Kebbi State Governor, His Excellency, Comrade Dr. Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu, says he is targeting 65,000 youth for the second phase of the Kaura Cares empowerment program.
He disclosed this during an interactive session with the youth held in Birnin Kebbi.
According to him, Kaura Cares is an empowerment program that seeks to empower both women and youth to become self-sufficient.
The governor added that the state government was establishing skills acquisition centers to provide youth with skills-based knowledge to be gainfully self-employed.
Gov. Idris noted that the government was opening information and communication technology (ICT) centers while urging legislators to establish more ICT centers in their respective constituencies to further boost the morale of the youth.
Commenting on health projects executed by his administration, the governor said he had signed an N500 million drug revolving fund, adding that renovation of Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital, Birnin Kebbi, had already commenced.
To curb doctors’ brain drain, Gov. Idris said he had increased the salaries of doctors in the state to be at par with those working with the federal government.
“We have started renovating three General Hospital in the state, and we have recruited 500 health workers and converted 2,000 casual health workers to permanent and pensionable workers,” he said.
On education, the governor said education is the backbone of any meaningful development; the present government had recruited 2,000 qualified teachers to raise the standard of education in the state.
He noted that the government had approved and implemented the new minimum wage for teachers in addition to increasing years of service for teachers from 35 to 40 years of service and from 60 to 65 years by birth.
In his speech, the Minister for Youth Development, Mr Ayodele Olawande said: “President Bola Tinubu believes in youth.
“The president has given and will continue to give the necessary opportunity to develop their talent for societal progress.
“Mr. President initiated programs for youth development to develop young talents in the task of nation building.”
The minister urged the youth to continue to be law-abiding and supportive of the government.
Olawande appreciated the Kebbi governor for his youth empowerment initiative.
Alhaji Anas Nasir Idris, the convener of the program, said the essence of the event was to appreciate the good works the governor was doing for the youth, especially in the area of education.
He said the youth turnout for the event had shown how committed the youth were to the course of the governor and called on them to sustain the tempo.
