Northern govs solicit US assistance in job creation, girl-child education

Northern governors have called for the intervention of the government of the United States of America in the areas of job creation, girl-child education, health and renewable energy including solar and wind.
Briefing newsmen after a closed door meeting with the American Secretary of State, John Kerry, Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, also gave the assurance that those in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) would have been fully resettled in their domains latest by 29th of May, next year.

Others governors at the meeting with Kerry were those of Kwara, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, Bauchi, Muhammed Abubarkar, Sokoto, Aminu Tambuwal and their Zamfara counterpart, Alhaji Abdulazeez Yari.

Briefing newsmen after the parley with Kerry, Shettima said “We had very fruitful, cross-pollination. Of ideas with the US Secretary of State, John Kerry. The issues we dwelled on enhancing the well being of our people and ensuring stability in the Nigerian nation.
“We discussed the issue of insurgency and other security challenges in all sub-regions of northern Nigeria. But fundamentally we made him to realise that underneath the mayhem by Boko Haram lies the real cause which is poverty. And we called on him to come in with their American support in the areas of job creation largely in the areas of agriculture and minning.

“We spoke on education which is essential for any society because the whole world is becoming knowledge driven. We requested for support in the area of girl-child education and gender empowerment. And of course we sought for support in strengthening our health care facilicities and health insurance that will really enhance the values of lives of our people. Because most of our problems are issues that can be attended to at the primary health care level.
“And lastly we discussed about renewable energy. Because power whether we like it or not is sine qua non for energy take off. No society can grow without adequate power support. So we requested for support in the area of renewable energy be in solar of wind.”

Asked whether he agreed with Kerry’s position that military crackdown on the Boko Haram insurgent would not achieve the desired results he said “Well, unless we want to engage in an endless war of attrition, security is just one way of pursuing peace in the north east and Nigeria as a whole.
On the IDPs, he said “On the issue of resettlement, the bulk of IDPs are from Borno State; the population of Maiduguri has swelled from two million to three million now. And where there is a will, there is always a way. Believe me by May 29th next year we want our people to go back to their homes. We are going to marshal whatever resources, with or without international support, to see that we have restored the dignity of our people. We cannot wait for eternity for manner for heaven from international community to develop our communities.”

Asked about specific areas the US government may want to help the country, the Sokoto governor said “In specific terms, I can say that there are commitments specifically on education with particular emphasis on girl-child education, commitment on health care and renewable energy.