By Moh Bello Habib, Zaria
An Government organization under auspices of EI's empowerment Foundation in collaboration with it's partners has empowered no fewer than 1000 Students of Kaduna State owned Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, Zaria with complementary business skills and sanitary pads.
Speaking at the flag off of the event held in the School on Thursday the Foundation Coordinator, Malam Musa Aliyu said the beneficiaries would also be empowered with practical knowledge and resources to thrive in various businesses
He said that the innovative programme seeks to enhance employment generation, poverty reduction and strengthen menstrual hygiene.
Mallam added that the available statistics indicated that there were over 300 tertiary institutions in the country who were graduating over 600,000 students annually.
His words "approximately about 6000 are getting jobs in government agencies after their graduation hence the need for the students to have these practical and digital skills.
"The programme, therefore, is to strengthen the government's Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) Initiative.
"1000 students will be trained on the skills and many of them will receive starter packs; the foundation will monitor their progress for three months to ensure the success of the initiative.
"Beside the digital skills from our partner, the students will be trained on modern bakery, shower gel production, among others."
The coordinator further pointed out that his foundation would also distribute free sanitary pads to the female students towards enhancing menstrual hygiene.
Also speaking Alhaji Abubakar Barde, Chief Executive Officer, ASB Data, a partner in the empowerment scheme engaged the students on digital skills.
He said students could actively pursue their academic programs and engage in some business using their smartphones with little capital and earn a good living.
"In this era one can start a business virtually without going to the market; students can initiate businesses such as data selling and digital communication businesses with a minimum of N10000 capital,’’ Barde said.
In his remarks, the Rector of the School, Dr. Mohammed Kabir commended the foundation and it's partner for the programme.
The Rector, represented by Malam Umar Hassan, Director School of Management Studies said poverty, unemployment and inequality were three fundamental problems in Nigeria and some African countries.
He said the foundation was in the institution to reduce the menace of unemployment; it empowered the students to be entrepreneurs towards developing peace and harmony in the society.
End.
