By: Wale Ibrahim, Lokoja
The speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Umar Imam Ahmed has admonished Kogi youths to acquire necessary vocational skills that will prepare them for the eventual take off of Ajaokuta Steel company.
Ahmed who made this admonition during this during the of the tour of his constituency in Lokoja.
According to him, the Federal Government have signified it’s intention to kick start the moribund Ajaokuta Steel company but lamented the lack of skill personnel in kogi state that will work there when it eventually takes off.
The speaker therefore announced his plans to train 50 youths through the Nigeria /Korea friendship initiate vocational institute in various vocational enterprises to prepare for the the eventual take off.
Ahmed said unemployment will soon be a thing of the past in the state as the state sixth Assembly under his watch are liaising with the federal government on how the projects will be completed for the benefits of the people.
The company which was built during the then Soviet Union is 98% completed having gulped over $4billion and needs only $1billion to start up it’s first phase.
Meanwhile, No fewer than 150 artisans have benefited from the empowerment scheme sponsored by the speaker of the kogi state house of Assembly honorable Ahmed Imam.
Ahmed who visited ward A, B, C and D explained to his constituents that despite forces that mitigated his stay in the house in the first year among which are court litigation, leadership tussle, he remained focused to give back to his people who he represents.
Accounting for his stewardship to his people, the lawmaker pointed that in education, huge success has been recorded just as scholarship were given to deserving candidates, writing material were distributed to schools to brighten the future of his people.
Ahmed who maintained that education remains the brain box for any meaningful development in the state, observed that social vices such as kidnapping, armed robbery, corruption will be reduced to it nearest minimal.
On human capital development, Imam Observed that those that are driving the economy are small and medium enterprise.
” I don’t believe that empowering youths is by giving them #10,000. The next time you will see them is computer village buying handset. Politician should allow the youths to feel their impacts in the country.”
The lawmaker while promising to empower over 100 women from his constituent also emphasised the need to identified with women who will impact meaningfully to the society.
” if you educate a woman or empower her you have empowered a nation” the Speaker stated.
Highlight of his legislative tour is the official opening of his constituency office in Lokoja.