The Bauchi State Government has commenced a skill empowerment training of 575 commercial sex workers operating in the state in eight skills to make them self-reliant and encourage them to stop prostitution.
The training, organised by the Hisbah Department of the Bauchi State Sharia Commission, will empower the commercial sex workers with tailoring, hairdressing, make-up, catering, cosmetology, poultry and fishery, computer and micro enterprise enhancement skills.
In his speech at the ceremony, which was held at the Bayangari area of Bauchi metropolis, the Permanent Commissioner in charge of Hisbah and Sharia Matters, Aminu Isa, said the training commenced on Monday and would last for three months.
He said 100 of the beneficiaries would each be trained in tailoring and hairdressing, while 75 each would be trained in make-up, catering and cosmetology.
According to him, 60 of the beneficiaries will undergo training in poultry and fishery, 50 in computer literacy, while the remaining 40 will be exposed to microenterprises enhancement.
Isa said, “It gives me great pleasure to be here with you on this auspicious occasion of the commencement of skills acquisition training for 575 registered women residing in this area. The training is part of the state government’s effort to provide the prerequisite vocational skills to the trainees and empower them to achieve self-sustainability and independence.
“You will recall that sometime last year, we were here to take your proper headcount with a view to advising the government on the next line of action as regards your current social status of joblessness and indolence.
“As a listening governor, Senator Bala Mohammed has responded to our request and mandated us to first train you and equip you with the basic vocational skills for future empowerment programmes under the government’s popular Kaura Economic Empowerment Programme.
“I have no doubt that after the training, we will still come back here to put a smile on your good faces by either providing you with the working tools or the seed capital to enable you to establish some micro businesses to achieve self-reliance.
“You are expected to undergo three-month training in eight specialised skills of tailoring, hairdressing, make-up, catering, cosmetology, poultry and fishery, computer literacy and microenterprises enhancement. I call on you to make the best use of this opportunity by concentrating your attention during the training as we will issue you with certificates of attendance.
“Let me stress the fact that whoever fails to measure up to expectation during the training will not be considered when we come to distribute the empowerment tools. You will definitely be examined after the training to determine your ability and capabilities in your areas of vocation.”
The Hisbah Permanent Commissioner said that from the headcount carried out last year, there were a total of 589 commercial sex workers from 17 states and two African countries in Bauchi.
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