According to recent reports, a total of 832 artisans, mostly orphaned because of the over a decade-long Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State have graduated from its Enterprise Institute. The event was presided over by the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum yesterday at the Muna Vocational Enterprise Institute, along the Dikwa-Gamboru highway in Jere Local Government Area.
The trainees were selected from across the 27 Local Government Areas of Borno State and have undergone training in 14 different trades; among them, 54 graduates specialized in aluminum fabrication, 29 in bricklaying, 48 in carpentry, and 73 in information technology. Others include 41 specializing in barbing, 46 in electrical work, 85 in leatherworks, 40 in plumbing, 72 in mechanics, 67 in solar technology, 148 in tailoring, 18 in tie and dye, 59 in welding, and 53 in hairdressing. In his address, Zulum said similar vocational institutes were established in Biu, Shani, Mafa and Magumeri.
At the same time, he revealed that plans were being made to revive vocational centers in Dikwa, Kaga, Ngala, Gajiram, and Monguno. The governor noted that the vocational institutes were established to address the challenges of youth unemployment and provide a means of livelihood to the people. Meanwhile, the governor has approved the distribution of starter kits worth N847,277,297 to each of the 832 trained artisans in addition to another N349,440,000 one-year labour-intensive public work grant that will help them attain self-reliance. Zulum also approved N41,600,000, with each 832 graduating artisans getting N50,000. The governor equally approved automatic employment for the 64 best artisans who have achieved over 90 percent.
