Kaduna youth urged to be self-reliant
Dan Iyan Jama’a in southern Kaduna, Comrade Sanusi Maikudi has charged youth to acquire skills and become self-reliant so they can make meaningful contributions to the society.
Comrade Maikudi made the call as a discussant at the annual one day youth sensitization lecture and awards presentation organized by Jama’a Emirate Students Association (JESA), in collaboration with Muslim Youth Foundation of Southern Kaduna in Kafanchan, Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna state.
He said engaging in a small scale business by women and youths will undoubtedly reduce the rate of poverty, unemployment in the country.
“This is the best time for youths and women to be equally equipped with skills, considering the challenges of poverty and unemployment facing the nation,” he said, adding that not only employees are benefitting from entrepreneur but government at all levels are also benefitting through collecting revenues and taxes.
“You will create wealth for yourself and employ people and from there you will be able to contribute to uplift your family and the larger society.”
Dr. Muhammad Kabir, from Department of Economics and Development Studies, Federal University, Kashere in Gombe state urged the participants to be courageous in order to overcome the challenges and difficulties as new business starters.
In a separate interview, the incoming and the outgoing Presidents of the Association, Muhammad Sani Adamu, and Akilu Ibrahim Musa believed that entrepreneurship is not only a tool for creating wealth but also served as a contributing factor in promoting peaceful coexistence in the society.
The award recipients include, Emir of Jama’a, Alhaji Muhammad Isa Muhammad; Talban Jama’a, Alhaji Sa’idu Adamu; Dan Iyan Jama’a Comrade Sanusi Maikudi; Sheikh Aminu Nababa Tahir, among others.
Before bagging your Ph.D. tell us about your background? I was born on the 5th of September, 1991 in Tudun Wada, Zaria in Kaduna state. I hold a Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng) degree in Chemical Engineering from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, an M.Sc and recently, a Ph.D from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), Saudi Arabia. I am a lecturer (on study fellowship) with ABU and I am happily married.
In my early days, I went to God’s Time Nursery and Primary School in Zaria and proceeded to Government Secondary School, Zaria before going to the university. I also attended Muslim Refresher Course Programme (MRCP), and Muslim Special Training Centre (MSTC) for extra mural lessons.
You spent most of your childhood days in Zaria. What was it like travelling out for studies?
The greatest sacrifice I believe is travelling to a different country leaving behind loved (family and friends) ones. The longest time I was away from home before this time was during my 21 days inside NYSC camp. However, for the quest of academic excellence and utilizing the opportunity, I accepted and ventured for the graduate studies at KFUPM in Saudi Arabia.
Why did you choose Saudi Arabia as destination for your studies?
The choice of Saudi Arabia is not unconnected with the fact that, getting a fully funded scholarship is relatively easier compared to other countries. Once you have an excellent CGPA and fully satisfied their requirements of GRE/ TOEFL, then securing admission/ scholarship becomes easy.
In their effort to boost research and development in the country, they attract talented students from across the globe; provide a conducive living and learning environment thereby benefiting from the research outputs/ contributions by the students.
Unlike most European countries that hardly give fully-funded scholarships and the United States that have mostly require very high GRE scores and an advisor’s (supervisor) consent, this is not the case with Saudi Arabia.