Kaduna budgets N200m to empower women and youths - Governor

Gov. Muktar Yero of Kaduna State on Monday said the state government budgeted about N200 million for women and youth empowerment this year.

He disclosed this during the distribution of take-off grants to beneficiaries of a skill training programme conducted by a community- based NGO, Kaura Youth Development Forum in Zaria.

 

The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Youths and Sports in the state, Alhaji Nazifi Jibril, said that the effort was the first of its kind in the history of the state.

 

Yero, who commended the forum for the gesture, said its mission was in line with the state government’s development plan.

 

He said that about 2,300 youths would soon benefit from SURE-P programme of the state government.

 

The governor called for people's prayers, support and advice to enable him execute his functions effectively.

 

The chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Muhammad Munnir-Jaafaru thanked members of the community for supporting the NGO in training, educating and rehabilitating women and youths in the community.

 

He pointed out that the parent body of the NGO ‘Tsintsiya’ was preparing to embark on a community-based social health insurance scheme to enable members cope with health challenges.

 

Earlier, the Chairman of the association, Alhaji Shehu Bello said that the association was established in 2006 to educate develop, empower and enlighten youths, orphans and widows.

 

Bello identified some of association's challenges to include lack of large training hall to contain various skill training programmes in numerous trades, vehicle for logistics and training programmes, among others.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NGO distributed cash worth over N4 million to beneficiaries during the programme.{NAN}