Press Release: Kebbi Govt launches Data Capture Portal, to bolster youths employment

Kebbi State Government, at the weekend launched a Data Capture Portal under the State Ministry for Information and Communication Technology , with a view to bolstering more employment opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths across the state.

The Kebbi State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu gave the approval for the creation of the portal (www.dcp.kebbistate.gov.ng).

The portal was also launched, so as to enable the people of the state especially youths to benefit from the myriad of interventions from federal government and other organizations in the country.

Speaking during the event, the State ICT Commissioner, Alhaji Abdullahi Muhammdu Magoro, said that, the invaluable gesture was part of the unwavering commitment of Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, to ensure the development of the people in all sectors.

According to Magoro, the portal was launched, in order to collate accurate data of all unemployed, educated, uneducated youths in the state and that registration is free of charge.

He said : " The state government was poised to having a robust and efficient database of all the unemployed youths in the state, hence, allow for better planning .

" The data will be captured so that, when the opportunities abound, more qualified youths from such interventions from the Federal Government and other Development Partners.

" We have already successfully conducted registration exercise like those of N-power and NYIF. With this portal, more of your youths will benefit."

Magoro further explained that, arrangements were made to ensure that, even the uneducated people benefit from the registration exercise.

" We have made arrangements with some designated business centres in all local government areas and internet cafes for the uneducated youths to go and fill forms.

" Their data will then be uploaded into the portal, hence they can as well benefit when the opportunities for such jobs and interventions come ," the Kebbi ICT Commissioner, added .

He acknowledged the contributions of other partners like the CBN, NOA and NIMC, among others , saying that, such support had facilitated the successful take off of the portal .

Also speaking, the Wazirin Gwandu, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar, lauded the state government for the unparalleled gesture, saying that, it will greatly reduce unemployment in the state .

According to the Wazirin Gwandu,the youths were the backbone of any society, as such, no efforts to provide employment opportunities for them was too much .

He urged the youths not to miss the chance provided by the state government, via the opening of the portal

The Waziri lauded governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu for his concern towards the upliftment of lives of the youths in the state, while also urging the Commissioner for ICT, Hon. Abdullahi Muhammdu Magoro, to reach out to beneficiaries in all nooks and crannies of the state, for the scheme to be successful.

' I am happy to be part of this occasion in view of its importance to the target beneficiaries, the youths.

' I am also happy to hear that Kebbi State is the first state in Nigeria to come up with this free of charge," he averred.

In their goodwill messages, the Commissioner for Animal Health, Husbandry and Fisheries , Hon Aminu Garba Dandiga while calling on youths to take advantage of the exercise, commended Bagudu for his commitment to ensuring that youths in the state were carried along in developmental issues.

The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Hassan Shalla, encouraged youths to support the exercise by coming out en mass to register.

The State Government, he said, under the able leadership of Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu always have the youths at heart .

Similarly, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Budget and Economic Planning, Haiya Aishatu Usman, described the launching of the data portal as a land mark development for the state.

She stressed the importance of data in planning, emphasising that, the Ministry would not relent in the provision of adequate funds for youths and women development and empowerment.

The Representative of NOA, Abubakar Dansalma, appealed to the Government, the Media and the traditional rulers to intensify efforts in creating awareness and mobilisation of youths in the state.

On his part, the State Chairman of Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), Alhaji Nura Bello, said the youths in the state never had it so good than now under the formidable leadership of Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu.

He said that, the youths have benefited immensely from myriad of interventions from both the state and federal governments, while SMEs across the country have witnessed boom .

The State Coordinator of Kungiyar Tallafin Mata, Zara'u Ahmad, acknowledged the visionary leadership of Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu in emancipating the youths from unemployment and poverty, calling on them to fully utilize the opportunity.

" After commending the Kebbi State Governor, my call on the youths is to take up this opportunity, because, they are the agents of development, " she said.

Highlights of the event include the commissioning of the Data Capture Portal by the Wazirin Gwandu, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar.

The Data Capture Portal for the state comprises data capture for graduates, skilled and unskilled youths, Small and Medium Enterprises, farmers and women in bussiness.

It could be recalled that, few weeks ago, the state under the visionary leadership of the Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, had flagged off free registration of Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF), for youths across the state.

Signed:
YAHAYA SARKI
Special Adviser (SA) Media to Kebbi State Governor
21/11/2020