By: Shekara Anthony
Adamawa state government says it will continue to support women and youth development through the acquisition of entrepreneurial skills that will make them critical stakeholders and major players in promoting viable and enduring economy.
The Adamawa State Commissioner for Entrepreneurship Development, Hamajumba Gatugel, made this known on the occasion of the 2024, World Youth Skills Day Celebration, held at the ministry’s headquarters in Yola.
Represented by the permanent secretary, Kwaji Duguri, the commissioner ministry of entrepreneurship development, Hamajumba Gatugal, said Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, acknowledged the potentials and contributions of women and youth towards economic growth and development, hence his decision to create ministry of entrepreneurship development in 2019, and the repositioning of the Poverty Alleviation and Wealth Creation Agency, PAWECA, so as to harness and harvest the abundant resources among women and youth to make them self reliant.
He explained that, in view of the ever changing demand of the world, it became necessary to create a conducive environment for entrepreneurship and innovation, adding that young people are at the forefront of the digital age, presenting innovative solutions to contemporary challenges, and this according to him underscores the need to have an education system that not only provide academic knowledge but emphasizes vocational and technical skills.
The commissioner further stated that Governor Fintiri did not only create avenues for skills acquisition, but has equally provided what is called “E-Wallet Programme” where cash grants of fifty thousand naira was given to ten thousand beneficiaries, especially women on quarterly basis for various businesses.
In his address, the Director General, Poverty Alleviation and Wealth Creation Agency PAWECA in Adamawa State, Dr. Michael Zira, represented by the Director, Monitoring and Evaluation, Alhaji Sani Abdulkadir, stressed the need to acquire skills that will make the women and youth not only self sufficient but also employers of labour, stressing that government at all levels do not have the capacity to employ all persons who are qualified, acknowledging the importance of PAWECA, as an agency saddled with the responsibility of reducing poverty by creating employment through entrepreneurship development.
While giving his goodwill message at the occasion, the Special Adviser to Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, on entrepreneurship, Alhaji Salihu Zumo, represented by Mallam Bamanga Ado, pointed out that Adamawa State is one of the states affected by insurgency, with its attendant destruction of lives, property and sources of livelihood, thereby resulting in loss of jobs and worsening poverty level, calling on the youth and women to embrace skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development.
In their separate remarks, the state manager, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria SMEDAN, Mustapha Ali Gana, and the National Coordinator, Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprises NASME, Mrs. Beatrice Benjamin, said this year’s theme of youth skills day celebration “Youth Skills for Peace Development” was apt, considering the importance of youth in peace building and economic growth of any society.
Highpoint of the occasion was the exhibition of art works that were crafted by youths.
