Ndume engages 5,000 Borno youths in farming, trades

SENATOR Muhammed Ali Ndume, representing Borno South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, has engaged 5,000 youths in farming and small- scale businesses to address poverty and unemployment.

According to him, the youth and women empowerment programmes will enhance economic growth and development in the state.

While flagging off the distribution of farm inputs in Biu on Monday, the Deputy Governor, Usman Kadafur, disclosed that “Five trucks of fertiliser and two trucks of improved seeds are being distributed today to 5,000 youths.”

He added that they were selected from the senatorial district, comprising nine local government areas.

He said that beneficiaries were also provided with a take- off grant of N40 million, as each youth got N10,000.

In a breakdown of beneficiaries, he said: “There are 1,000 each of women and students, while 1,000 small- scale businessmen were also selected for the empowerment programmes.

“Additional 1,000 women and 1,000 young farmers are selected for the empowerment programme to become self- reliant,” adding that 100 youths were also presented with N10 million empowerment support of various trades.

He noted that the empowerment support of Ndume could expedite the post- insurgency recovery process, including creation of more jobs among the youth.

Ndume declared that the era of political thuggery was over in the state and there was need for the youths to engage in productive activities like farming or acquisition of skills in trades.

He, therefore, urged the youths to make maximum use of the distributed farm inputs and N40 million take- off grants.