CSOs plea for return of Vocational Training Schools in Kebbi
CSOs plea for return of Vocational Training Schools in Kebbi
By Auwal Ilyasu, Birnin Kebbi
The Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have called on the Kebbi state government to revive Vocational Training Schools in order to support youths with skills to become self-reliant.
The call was made by the President of Kebbi State Civil Society Forum (KECSOF) Muhammed Bello Abubakar, who led other members of the forum on a courtesy visit to the state governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu on Monday in Birnin Kebbi.
In his remark, Abubakar highlighted the forum had been complimenting efforts of the state government in the area of environmental sanitation.
According to him the forum was formed by youths from across the 21 Local Government Areas of the state choose to support the government, “considering the huge amount of money spent by Government in making sure the state remains clean all the time”.
Abubakar explained that the association was organized to contribute to the development of the state and through the communities. He stated that forum had organized a brainstorming session with stakeholders on the lingering issues of rape and kidnapping.
He celebrated that session led to the emergence of state legislation on the issues which the governor had assented to.
Abubakar disclosed that the organization which had carried out a number of community sensitization on COVID-19, also planned to embark on LGA tour to sensitize the youths on the dangers of drug abuse and other social vices.
Hence he solicited financial support from the government to ensure the success of the program.
On his part, Governor Atiku Bagudu, called for a robust partnership between the three tiers of government and the CSOs. According to him, this was to bolster good governance in the state.
He noted, a good partnership is needed to ensure the steady provision of the direly needed dividends of democracy to the people of the state.
The Governor said: “The government does not have the monopoly of wisdom and it cannot do everything alone. We need the participation of all, especially the CSOs, because, they always have considered opinions”.
Babudu further stated that: “This is also to ensure that, all actions are not based on mere presumptions, but, on well informed views. This will eventually result in the formulation and implementation of plausible policies and programmes,” the governor added.
Bagudu tasked the CSOs to engage the government, rather than, waiting to be invited by the government. While the governor also expressed that his administration has an unwavering commitment to engage the group.
He urged the forum to replicate the same commitment so as to have the needed paradigm shift. The governor added saying: “with the advocated partnership, the people of the state will be more empowered and the provision of amenities and myriad of empowerment schemes will be evolved”.
