Kogi State Government says it is committed to creating a deliberate youth empowerment strategy aimed at making its youths self reliant and independent minded.
Capt Idris Wada, the State Governor stated this at the closing ceremony for the second Batch for Youth Advancement Training Programme.
The Programme which has so far engaged 1500 youths as volunteers,the Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Yomi Awoniyi, noted is Government’s commitment to developing sectors of the society as it relates to the youth.
With abundant of youths talent that abound the state, Capt Wada disclosed that the state Government is designing a programme that will enable youths engage in music,Tourism and entertainment.
The Governor stated that his administration will place priority on issues relating to youths, described youths as agents of change,whose development should be meaningful and purposeful.
In her speech,the Special Adviser,Youths and Women Development, Mrs Temitope Shinkaiye said the more than 700 young men and women who will work in their Local Government of Origin, from 7.00am to 10.00am, had their capacity built and were adequately equipped to contribute to the socio economic development of the State.
She said the youths were also lectured on environmental sanitation and topical issues adding that the training was a total package for the youths to ensure self discipline.
The youths she added are volunteers who will be paid N7000 as monthly stipends after satisfactory completion of the cleaning of portion allocated to them,will be engaged for 12 months during which they will be groomed for better opportunities through the learning of a trade that will be supplemented by the State Government,thanked the Federal Government for its SURE-P programme and the commitment of the State Government to the programme.
Highlight of the closing ceremony was the defeat by women of Igalamela Odolu LGA tug of war team over their male counterparts.
Prizes were given to first, second and third tug of war teams as well as working tools to the Volunteers.
