BAUCHI—THE first batch of 1,000 beneficiaries of the women and youths empowerment programme in Bauchi State, organised by the wife of the President,

Aisha Buhari, under her pet project, “ Future Assured” have rounded up their training. Aisha Buhari The programme was facilitated by the Bauchi State Commission for Youths and Women Rehabilitation and Development, BACYWORD. The 1000 beneficiaries were randomly selected from different women and youth groups from three local governments areas of Katagum, Ningi and Toro and trained based on their choice of vocations. The women beneficiaries were taught fashion designing, interior decoration, event management, catering and leatherwork. Others were trained how to produce cosmetics and household cleaning products, while the youths were taught carpentry work, phone and computers repairs, and furniture repairs. Aisha Buhari who spoke at the closing ceremony of the skills acquisition programme, said since the inception of the APC administration in the nation, not less than 10,000 youths and women had benefited from the skills acquisition training programme under her pet project, ‘Future Assured” and have become owners of businesses and entrepreneurs. She said the Federal government has approved the sum N500 billion for social Safety Network initiated by the president for the poor and less privileged persons in the country. The wife of the president said that the turnout of women and youths for the skills acquisition programme in the state had portrayed their interest in income generation which at the long run, the economy of the nation would benefit from the scheme. “I want to urge the beneficiaries of this laudable skill acquisition programme to make use of the skills become employers of labour and solve your immediate financial challenge Before I got married, I had only a secondary school certificate, so i am encouraging women to acquire education on time in order not to miss out on laudable interventions by the government. This administration will continue to champion the cause of women and children in the areas of education, health, entrepreneurship, particularly those in disadvantaged positions” she said Earlier ,Governor Mohammed Abubakar, of the state, commended the wife of the president for the empowerment programme, saying her labour and sacrifice for Bauchi State had yielded tremendous success and reward, adding that his administration would continue to compliment the laudable initiatives of the wife of the president by implementing and giving adequate support to improve the lots of women and children in bauchi state.