By Abdullahi Muhammad
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has reiterated the commitment of his Administration to continue to improve the living standards of the residents by creating jobs and providing the desired enabling environment.
Bello, who was represented by the Managing Director of the Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA), Tukur Arabi, disclosed this at the weekend at the closing ceremonies of the Entrepreneurship and Skills Development Programme organised by the FCT Administration in conjunction with the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, at the FCT Youth Development Centre, Nyanya.
He said: “This training programme focuses on providing the youths of the FCT with skills that would enable them succeed in whatever business venture they intend to start. During the course of this training, I am aware that your Facilitators have trained you the participants on vocational skills such as animal husbandry, poultry, paint making, etc, in addition to entrepreneurial skills such as Business management, financial management and other critical areas.
“As an Administration, our target is to create 10,000 jobs by the year 2020. In creating these jobs, we will support our people to generate wealth; thereby reducing the high rate of unemployment and minimising the level of poverty in the Territory. This stand is also in line with one of the cardinal policies of the government of our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari; that is job creation and poverty reduction.”
In his remarks, the Managing Director of the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, Dr. Shettima Aji, said that the Foundation was established in 2009 by friends, relations, associates and well-wishers of Sir Ahmadu Bello, the late Premier of the defunct Northern Region and Sardauna of Sokoto, in collaboration with governments of the 19 northern states to promote the exemplary ideals and legacy of the late sage.
Speaking earlier, the Women leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), FCT chapter, Mrs. Hailmary Aipoh, commended the Minister for ensuring that members of the party in the FCT, especially women, were among the 110 participants who benefitted from the training programme.
