The Commissioner for Information, Youths, Sports and Culture, Mr. Sagir Musa, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Dutse, the state capital, on Thursday.
He said that the policy would serve as a framework that would guide the operations of the ministry while leveraging the efforts of the state Governor, Umar Namadi’s administration for youth development.
He added “One thing I want you to understand is that at the inception of the present administration, Governor Namadi made five appointments; the SSG, Chief of Staff, Principal Private Secretary and then the first Directior-General for Agency for Youths Empowerment and Employment in Jigawa, the first of its kind.
“And this does not compromise what we are doing in our ministry as the governor particularly wanted to see how he can empower the teeming youths in the state to get employed at different levels.
“So, he particularly took the aspect of empowerment and employment of youths to a dedicated agency where they will be trained in different vocational skills that can give them the opportunity to be self-employed and to become responsible citizens.
“At the same time, we are looking holistically at how we can come up with a state youth policy that will entirely guide youth development.”
The commissioner added that the ministry was also working towards establishing a strong and sound youth organisation.
According to him, the ministry is making efforts to ensure that competent young people become members of the National Youth Council.
He said, “There is also a youth parliament that we also want to see representation from the 30 constituencies of Jigawa that will constitute the state youth parliament for representation at national and global levels.
“So, all these things are currently ongoing and the ministry is working in collaboration with youth empowerment and employment agency as a law has been passed by the Jigawa State House of Assembly that brought the substantive DG,” Musa said.
While commending the governor’s inclusiveness in governance, Musa said a lot of youths in the state had already benefitted from the initiatives of the agency.
He said, “A lot of efforts have already been made so far and I can tell you that many youths have benefited from the dividends of the initiative and we give glory to God for bringing this governor that has youths in mind.”
NAN
