Shettima to graduate 1, 280. skills trainees, distribute relief materials to 2000 disaster victims in Nasarawa

By David Odama

Vice president, Senator Kassim Shettima is to witness the graduation of 1,280 trainees t of he Wing Commander Ibrahim Abdullahi Vocational and Technology Institute Lafia as well as commission the one-stop investment centre of the Nasarawa State Investment Development Agency (NASIDA) among other activities lined up during the one day visit.

Speaking while briefing Journalists in Lafa to herald the vice president’s visit, Executive Director of the Institute, Dr. Daniel Ewuga, told Journalists that the institute had, in the last three months, trained the graduands in various areas of trade, including welding, fabrication, ICT, cosmetology, mechanical engineering and plumbing.r

According to Dr Ewuga, the trainees who are from various states across the country are skilled in over forty contemporary skill areas worthy for graduation to compete favourably in the global vocational skills Labour market.

He commended Governor Abdullahi Sule, Nigeria’s foremost Catholic priest, Bishop Matthew Kukah among others for supporting the young trainees to acquire basic skills that would impact on their livelihoods and their immediate communities.

On her part, Commissioner for Special Duties, Humanitarian Service and NGOs, Dr. Margaret Elayo, told newsmen that Shettima’s visit will feature the distribution of relief materials to victims of flood disasters in the state.

She disclosed that her ministry, in collaboration with the Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency (NASEMA) were given matching order by the governor to generate the records of people affected numbering about 2000 to benefit from the gesture aimed at cushioning their plights.

Also speaking on the vice visit, Commissioner for Local Government, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mohammed Iyimoga, explained that the vice president would also participate in the distribution of farm machinery.

Iyimoga stressed that the distribution of the farm inputs marked a milestone achievement of Governor Abdullahi Sule in boosting food security.

He noted that the government harvested over 10,000 bags of rice to enhance food security, adding that a fraction would be distributed to local government areas with others stored for the next planting season.

On his part, the Managing Director/CEO, Nasarawa Investment Development Agency (NASIDA), Ibrahim Abdullahi said the visit would also witness the groundbreaking ceremony of the construction of the Agency’s one-stop investment center to foster economic development initiatives.

According to him, Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanism is also in place to complement the effort of government and investors in making businesses conducive.