FG Graduates 500 Facilitators To Tackle Out-Of-School Children In Gombe

The executive Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Yahaya has commended President Muhammadu Buhari-led government for reaching out to his state with an initiative capable of reducing social vices amongst citizens.

Ezenwoko's Blog understands that the governor's vote of thanks is coming following the graduation of 500 facilitators on Saturday to help reduce the increasing rate of out school children in the state.

The Special Adviser to President Buhari on Social Investment, Maryam Uwais, while giving her address at the event yesterday, urged the facilitators to help the children acquire knowledge, adding that they were expected to provide mentorship.

She made it open that the 500 facilitators were expected to give reports on the process of each child under their care every month.

Uwais stressed that the initiative by the All Progressive Congress, APC, is a strategic approach towards dealing with myriad of issues affecting the enrolment of children within the communities.

She said, “You have been trained to handle the responsibility of other children beyond learning. You will take care of the children in your communities. You will be expected to not only supervise and teach them you will also monitor them, but you will also mentor them.

“You will make sure you give us a report every month on how every child that has been assigned to you is progressing within your community. This is a huge task but we feel this is the only way we can address the huge numbers of the child but who will also be out of school across the country.”

She also revealed the seven pillars include; Literacy & Numeracy, Vocational & Financial Skills, Digital Skills, Life Skills and Sports, Health & Nutrition, Agriculture &Climate Issues, Gatekeeper, Intervention & Incentivisation.

“The need to create an army of capacity within the community to see how we can support these children whose the no fault of theirs are deprived of so many rights and protection,” Uwais noted.

While lauding the cooperation of the state government in tackling issues affecting children, Uwais noted that the state has become a model for other states like Sokoto, Kaduna and Borno.

Meanwhile, in his remark earlier, Governor Yahaya said, “Let me specially commend the federal government of Nigeria under the able leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari for introducing this programme to tackle the crisis of vulnerable children, including Almajiri children, street children and youths potentially at risk physically and psychologically.

“The introduction of this programme to provide succours or to the less privileged and vulnerable in our societies so that they could live a more dignified life is indeed timely and welcomed.”

Yahaya confirmed that the first batch of facilitators were selected from the list of unemployed youths in the state while urging them to be ambassadors of the initiative.

“As pioneers of this programme, I urge you all to work hard, uphold your knowledge for good practice and training, remain focused and above all, be good ambassadors of our administration's effort towards improving human capital development in the state,” Yahaya said.