Bauchi State Commissioner of Education, Dr Jamila Muhammad Dahiru has stressed that patronising locally-made products would boost the state’s economy as local businesses will grow.
The Commissioner made the assertion at the end of a 3-week entrepreneurial and vocational skills training and mentorship organised for conventional secondary school students from across the three senatorial zones of the state.
She promised to propose such idea especially to the State Muslim and Christian Pilgrims Boards who deal with procurement of hand luggage in large amount.
The Commissioner therefore urged Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the state to support and patronise local artisans towards boosting local production, reducing the cost of governance and improving revenue generation.
Jamila Dahiru who was represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Ali Babayo said that the training is part of efforts by the present administration to transform learning activities beyond classrooms walls by empowering students with skills trade and for economic prosperity of the state.
Speaking earlier, the Director, Science, Technical and Vocational Education in the Ministry, Malam Dauda Mahmud said that the School Work Initiative (SWI), is a trial training for students in conventional Secondary schools aimed at equipping them with the requisite knowledge to become self reliant.
Dauda Mahmud said that 100 students from each of the three senatorial zones, making a total of 300 were selected for the Three weeks pilot training on various skills trade which included electrical wiring, tailoring, satellite installation, furniture making, leather work, beads making among others.
The Lead Facilitator, Muhammad Bala from Technical College, TVET Centre, Bauchi said that the trainees have shown exceptional skills and dedication during the period.
He called for the sustenance of the initiative for the benefit of other students.
Some of the trainees including Amina Musa and Grace Yusuf from Government Day Secondary School, Kofar Wambai expressed appreciation for the gesture and urged other students to embrace skills trade and show dedication and resilience for a brighter future.
The students described the training as a worthwhile commending the Ministry for organising it calling for more of it to cover the entire students population in the state.
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