US Exchange Alumni Sokoto state chapter, has call for increased youth mentorship programmes on education, business skills and other empowerment initiatives with linkages to global opportunities.
The Association’s Co-chairman, Alhaji Sani Umar-Jabbi, made the call at a lecture in commemoration of World Population Day and Youths Skills Day organized by the alumni on Friday in Sokoto.
Umar-Jabbi, who is the District Head of Gagi in Sokoto South local government area, said alumni members embarked on strategic guides to improve citizens wellbeing through different programmes.
He underscored the importance of acquiring skills beside academic qualifications, stressing that the association encouraged students and other citizens on productive engagements.
He urged government and non governmental actors to redouble efforts on containing the rising population growth through acceptable best practices and channel resources for enhancing citizens’ living standards.
According to him, challenges of resource management led to competitions by humans from the scarce farmlands, residential buildings, health and educational facilities in the society.
He explained that proactive actions were desirable for proper demographic planning, inculcating productive engagements through viable skills to promote improved living standards.
Umar-Jabbi enjoined people to promote understanding of Gender Based Violence (GBV), gender equitable norms, women empowerment, access to qualify healthcare services, education and others.
In his lecture, the State Director of National Population Commission (NPC), Alhaji Malami Marafa-Gagi, dwelled on the trends of global population growth, implications and consequences of poor planing, low indices of poor healthcare and educational services in Sokoto state.
Marafa-Gagi emphasized the need for inclusive population data which is crucial to modern demographic planing of any society.
He said modern data gathering tools and Information Technology (IT) can be use to ensure right and inclusive population data collections and enjoined stakeholders to support the drive at all levels.
He explained that NPC ensure collaboration with national, state and non governmental agencies on every data collection aspects.
Another alumni, Mr Mus’ab Hassan-Bodinga, made a presentation on youth skills for peace and development, highlighting opportunities in Sokoto state and environs for youth to engage for profitable gains.
Hassan-Bodinga urged participants to utilize the American Corner established in Usmanu Danfodio University Sokoto (UDUS) for brighter global opportunities and partnerships.
He urged students to engage on innovative aspects of digital making, Information Technology (IT), modern businesses,, agricultural productions, leather technology and other talented engagements.
Newsmen reports that presentations were reviewed by Prof. Ma’azu Shamaki of Geography department in UDUS while the event featured questions and answers.
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