The Zamfara Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Abdulmalik Abubakar-Gajam, has called on youths to accept system challenges and ensure better governance at all levels.
The 31-year-old commissioner and former leader of the National Youths Liaison Movement, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of an event to mark the International Youth Day Commemoration in Sokoto.
”I must tell you that working in the midst of people who are older than me is challenging. Most times they think that my focus is still not matured,” he said.
He commended Gov. Dauda Lawal’s effort for considering capability and capacity to undertake leadership which resulted in appointment of more youths into various positions in his administration.
He reminded youths of the need to learn trade and skills to be entrepreneurial enough to create job opportunities for better tomorrow.
”Societal challenges, violence and restiveness, along with other related issues must be discouraged among young people.
”We shall always encourage Nigerian youths to make themselves useful, develop their talents, acquire skills, and be more entrepreneurial, ” Abubakar-Gajam said.
He said Gov. Lawal had actively engaged youths through programnes to suppress thuggery and other forms of restiveness in the state
According to him, present administration in Zamfara prioritises education by payment of Senior Secondary School Examination fees, scholarship, skill acquisition trainings and facilitating investments into the state to provide employment opportunities.
”Our administration ensures gender responsive budgets capturing all categories of people, vulnerable groups, physically challenged persons with their respective needs.
”We always make use of the contents of the Social Register. Beneficiaries are drawn to ensure inclusiveness and adhere to stipulated guidelines more than any previous governments in Zamfara.
”The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs commended us because Zamfara was named in the category of best states in compilation and implementation of Social Register, ” the commissioner said.
He also highlighted the collaborative efforts with partners such as UNICEF, UNFPA, UNDP among others, which had helped the state achieve significant progress in actualising the targets formulated by Gov. Lawal. (NAN)
