At least 120 young beggars picked from streets of the FCT, would be graduating from various vocational skills training programme organised by the Social Development Secretariat of the FCTA.
The beggars, popularly referred to as Almajiris, were picked from major streets of Abuja and rehabilitated at the Bwari Vocational Training Centre.
FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Aliyu, who carried out a routine assessment of the Secretariat expressed satisfaction over what she described as ’huge transformation’ of the vulnerable in the society.
The minister who commended the management staff of the secretariat for keying into the presidential deliverables of taking 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next ten years, tasked them to scale-up the number of youths in the training programme with a view to meeting the target.
“From inception about three years ago, we embarked on impromptu visits to all our secretariats, departments and facilities to see how they were being managed, particularly the Social Development Secretariat where we have the human component that handles the people.
“Just like the ministerial deliverable by President Muhammadu Buhari, and the mandate of uplifting poor Nigerians out of poverty, the Social Development Secretariat is saddled with the responsibility of transforming the Almajiris and giving them basic skills.
“The secretariat has given the beggars, destitute, and vulnerable a new lease of life, as you can see the Almajiris, rising from grass to grace. Some will be graduating as painters, bricklayers, carpenters, shoemakers and so on and so forth.
“So to FCT Administration, it is in line with Mr. President’s mandate to ensure that life is given back to the common man. The common man is empowered and upgraded and given good quality of living. Like never before, many have been transformed. Many have been trained and many today, have a means of livelihood,” she noted.
Aliyu, stressed that as soon as the graduation of this phase, a new set of 20 persons in each of the vocational skills would be recruited, adding that the Secretariat was targeting 200 youths in the next phase of engagement.
Meanwhile, Head of Ceramics, FCT Social Development Secretariat, Mr. Mordi Stephen, revealed that since 2015, he graduates over 120 youths yearly in ceramics production, adding that he is currently training 5 students from different higher institutions posted to the Secretariat for Industrial Training.
