Wamakko Distributes Rice, Clothing Materials to 9,000 Orphans

BY ABU IDRISU:

Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko, has distributed 10,000 bags of rice and clothing materials worth N64 million to 9,000 orphans in the state. He also presented working tools to 125 youth trained on modern shoe making.
Speaking during the recent graduation ceremony of the youth in Sokoto, Wamakko said the gesture was meant to assist orphans and needy persons to celebrate the Eid- el-Fitri festivities with ease.
The governor described the gesture as part of his administration’s commitment to the welfare of the less-privileged in the society.
Wamakko explained that 100 bags were distributed to needy persons in each district in the state. He noted that his administration gave priority to youth empowerment with a view to curbing poverty and unemployment.
According to him, through such empowerment schemes, youths would be able to acquire skills to be self-dependent, thereby keeping away from crime. He maintained that Northerners are not lazy and unproductive and as such should not be seen as parasites by other parts of the country.
“It is high time our youth rise up and acquire skills to be productive. We should not allow others to see us as parasites. We should give more priority to agriculture and go back to farming activities which is the only way to revive the economy of the North.
“We want our youth to be productive so that they can live a meaningful life and be able to train others rather than begging on the streets. In doing so, we are fighting against youth restiveness, rural-urban drift, drug addiction as well as unemployment,” he said.
In a remark, the Chairman of Sokoto State Zakat and Endowment Committee, Alhaji Lawali Maidoki, said the 125 youths were exposed to business lessons in addition to shoe-making for the duration of one month. He stated that the aim of the training was to prepare the youth to be self-employed and employers of labour in future.
Maidoki disclosed that each graduand was provided with working tools worth N50,000 and a N10,000 stipend to start up their business. He emphasised that the dream was to see shoe-making business being dominated by Sokoto-made shoes at local, national and international levels.
He urged the youth to utilise their training lessons to train other youths in their communities so that idleness could be eradicated in the society.
Also speaking, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, who spoke through the District Head of Yabo, Alhaji Muhammad Mairurare, commended the governor for his commitment to the welfare of needy persons in the state.