Gombe targets 100,000 ‘street’ children for better life
…as 500 ARC-P facilitators to enjoy N30,000 monthly allowance
500 At Risk Children Programme (ARC-P) Facilitators who graduated from a three week training in Gombe are to enjoy a N30,000 monthly allowance for the duration of the programme.
No fewer than 100,000 vulnerable street children between the ages of seven and 24 in Gombe State who are living under very risky conditions, would benefit from various interventions rolled out under the project aimed at getting them off the streets for a better life.
Special Adviser to Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State on Human Capital Development, Sani Ahmed Haruna, stated this at the graduation ceremony of 500 ARC-P Facilitators in Gombe.
These Youths Facilitators were trained in Animal fattening, cosmetology, beads and leather work, fish and poultry farming as well as food and beverages, are expected to serve as the direct link to these children at risk.
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 issue 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 LGA’s in the State through ALGON and the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.”
However, 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.
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.
He then urged pioneers of the ARC-P youth facilitators to work hard and uphold their knowledge for good practice, training and to remain focus 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 Muhammasu 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 bedeviling 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.”
