By Mu’awiya Bala Idris, Katsina
The Katsina State Government has graduated more than 3,000 out-of-school girls after equipping them with various vocational skills over the past three years, the Permanent Secretary, Department of Girl Child Education and Child Development, Dr. Sani Suleiman, has disclosed.
Speaking with journalists on Friday in Katsina, Dr. Suleiman said the beneficiaries received training in different trades, including catering, computer studies and tailoring, as part of the government’s efforts to empower young women and reduce unemployment.
He explained that upon completion of the programme, the state government provided the graduates with starter kits and financial support to enable them establish their own businesses.
According to him, the department has also set up a monitoring committee to assess the performance of the beneficiaries and ensure the proper utilisation of the equipment and funds distributed to them.
Dr. Suleiman noted that the initiative has significantly improved the livelihoods of many out-of-school girls by providing them with employable skills and sustainable sources of income, while also contributing to the welfare of their families.
He commended the Katsina State Government for sustaining the programme and continuing the distribution of business support packages to beneficiaries.
The permanent secretary urged parents to take advantage of the government’s vocational training centres by enrolling their daughters, stressing that the initiative offers a pathway to self-reliance and economic empowerment.
Commenting on the welfare of children in the state’s Motherless Babies Home, Dr. Suleiman said the government has continued to provide adequate food, healthcare and other essential needs for the children.
He also appreciated non-governmental organisations and public-spirited individuals for supporting the home through donations of clothing, food items and other relief materials.
