Governor Nasir Idris has directed the Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Alhaji Nura Bala-Fingiller, to scout for notorious political thugs and place them under a token stipend while training them on skills acquisition.
The aim of this initiative is to not only curb thuggery but also to make these individuals productive, self-reliant, and potentially employers of labor.
Speaking at a weekly press briefing organized by the State Ministry of Information and Culture, the commissioner shared the government's plans to tackle all forms of political thuggery in the state.
The briefing showcased the achievements of the present administration in less than a year.
To further engage the youth in the state, the ministry is organizing a sensitization program in all 21 local government areas on the importance of skills training and the dangers of drug abuse.
The program is being conducted under the umbrella of the Kebbi Youth Council and involves collaboration with foreign agencies on youth development programs to complement the efforts of the Kebbi Government in providing opportunities for the youth to become self-reliant.
The ministry is also making arrangements to construct a standard skills acquisition training center in each of the four Emirates of the state, with the primary purpose of training the youth.
In addition to addressing political thuggery, the ministry has also recorded success in beach soccer, winning the 2022 Beach Soccer League hosted by the Kebbi government, participating in and winning the Lagos International Beach Soccer Championship, and ranking the Kebbi Beach Soccer Team as number one in Nigeria.
Furthermore, the ministry has facilitated the marketing of football players across Europe and the Middle East, with six players already on trial, some preparing for Portugal for trial and signing contracts for the 2023/2024 football season.
The state government has also sponsored the Referees Development Programme, which resulted in the nomination of two referees into the FIFA Grading Programme.
With these initiatives in place, Governor Idris' administration is taking a proactive approach to address the issue of political thuggery, while also providing opportunities for the youth to become productive members of society.
