FCTA to engage 1,000 Almajiris in vocational training

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) is set to take no fewer than 1,000 Almajiris off the street of the nation’s capital.

Alhaji Sani Amar, acting Director, Department of Social Welfare Services, Social Development Secretariat, FCTA, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.

Amar explained that the move was part of the efforts toward ensuring the attainment of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration’s determination to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty.

“The FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, directed that as part of the presidential mandate to remove 100 million Nigerians out of poverty, we engage Almajiris on vocational skills training and education.

“That will make them be self-reliant and ensure that they too become employers of labour, as beggars and Almajiris have nothing doing other than going around soliciting for what to eat.

“So we moved around the city and identified some Islamic schools closer to the city, to start with.

“We are able to come out with 120 Almajiris and engage them in different skills acquisition, such as carpentry, shoe making and painting.

“As time goes by and based on our target, we are going to engage over 1,000 Almajiris in different skills acquisition training.

“At the end of their training, there will be a ceremony where each and every one of them will be given a starter pack and money to rent a space for their business,” he said.

Amar said that the Department of Social Welfare Services of the FCTA Social Development Secretariat was mandated to ensure that FCT streets were free of all human nuisance.

(NAN)