Gombe targets resettling of 100,000 ‘street’ children for better life

No fewer than 100,000 vulnerable street children between the ages of 7 to 24 in Gombe State who are living under very risky conditions, are to benefit from the various interventions rolled out under the ‘At-Risk Children Programme (ARC-P)’ project aimed at getting them off the streets for a better life.

To achieve the objectives, a total of 500 At-Risk Children Programme (ARC-P) Facilitators have been trained and graduated after a three-week training held in Gombe facilitated by the Federal Government.

The facilitators are to enjoy a N30,000 monthly allowance for the duration of the programme in order to ensure that they performed their functions properly without any hindrance.

The disclosure was made by the Special Adviser to Gombe state Governor, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya on Human Capital Development, Sani Ahmed Haruna, at the graduation ceremony of the 500 ARC-P Facilitators in Gombe over the weekend.

He explained that the youths Facilitators were trained in Animal fattening, cosmetology, beads and leatherwork, fish and poultry farming as well as food and beverages and are expected to serve as the direct link to the streets children at risk.

Sani Ahmed also said that all the 500 Youth Facilitators have signed and agreed to work for the betterment of all At-Risk Children in Gombe State.

According to him, “Their appointment letters will be issued as soon as we connect them to our proposed 25 Temporary Community Hubs- as we are already working hand in hand with all the 11 LGAs in the State through ALGON and the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs”.

In his speech, the State Governor, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, lauded President Muhammadu Buhari over his administration’s empowerment initiative of At-Risk Children Programme (ARC-P) which he said has significantly helped in tackling crises associated with vulnerable children and youths that are potentially at risk of both physical and psychological state of wellbeing.

According to him, “We are indeed proud of your commitment which has made Gombe State a model in the implementation of this laudable initiative, this batch of ARC-P facilitators that have completed their training were selected from the data bank of unemployed graduates that our administration established in order to link this skilled graduates with appropriate job opportunities”.

He also commended the determination and commitment of the project advisory committee under the leadership of his wife, Hajiya Asmau Inuwa Yahaya and that of the project implementation team.

“In our quest to improve human capital, preparation for the engagement of no fewer than two thousand youths under our homegrown human capital development initiative, the Gombe State security traffic (G-STEP) and Environmental Corps has reached an advanced stage geared towards harnessing the energy of our youths for social and economic development”, he added.

He then urged pioneers of the ARC-P youth facilitators to work hard and uphold their knowledge for good practice, training and to remain focused while maintaining the posture of good ambassadors of his administration’s efforts towards improving human capital in the State.

In her remarks, Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Social Investment, Hajiya Maryam Uwais who is also the National Team Lead of the ARC-P, challenged the pioneer graduands that additional responsibility has been placed on their shoulders of ensuring the safety of vulnerable members of their respective Communities especially the vulnerable.

She lauded Inuwa Yahaya led administration for being the first state to embrace the project saying, “for us, it is really heartwarming to see how Gombe prioritized youth empowerment which is apparently one of the key problems bedevilling this country and for us to have a State Government that has placed so much trust and confidence in our ability to deliver is really very encouraging to us”.

Earlier in his address of welcome, the Secretary to Gombe State Government, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi remarked that the graduation ceremony of the 500 ARC-P youth facilitators marked a great milestone in the quest by the administration of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya in bringing succour to the numerous vulnerable children.

He noted that the Governor has, since coming to office, demonstrated uncommon determination towards creating enabling environment for youths to discover their talents, realize their potentials, improve their livelihood and contribute meaningfully to the development of the state and nation.

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