Nasarawa Lawmaker Empowers 150 Youths with Skills, Capital

By Damilola Oyedele in Abuja

The lawmaker representing Karu/Keffi/Kokona Federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Jonathan Gaza Gbewfi has empowered 150 youth in his constituency with skills in the production of Shea butter cosmetics.

The beneficiaries also received training in the use of discarded pure water sachets to make re-usable shopping bags, and mats, in addition to receiving capital to start small businesses.

Speaking at the recent graduation of the beneficiaries who are the first batch of his youth empowerment scheme in Karu, Gbewfi urged them to train others around them, as a way to reduce unemployment in their neighbourhood.

The training programme tagged ‘Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Training, Domestic and Material Production’, was implemented in conjunction with the Project Development Institute.

Gbewfi, who is also the Deputy Spokesman of the House, noted that government alone cannot provide employment to the rising number of unemployed, particularly in an economic recession.

“Consider this training as a means to get yourself employed, instead of abandoning what you have learnt. It would provide money to take care of your families, and those of you who have children can keep your children in school,” he said.

“Also try to teach at least 10 persons around you, and if they succeed, we will ensure that they receive seed money, and this would reduce unemployment around us,” the lawmaker added.

A member of the Peoples’ Democratic Party Board of Trustees, Senator Wali Jibril, in his goodwill message at the ceremony, appealed to Nigerians to practice politics of peace regardless of party or ethnic affiliations, and eschew bitterness. This, he said, was the only way to ensure and sustain national development.

A highlight of the ceremony was the conferment of the award of honorary fellow of the Nigerian Psychological Association on Gbewfi, by the President of the NPA, Prof. Andrew Zamani.

Zamani, who is also the Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences in Nasarawa State University, told the gathering that the lawmaker was considered for the award for his foresight, and efforts at developing his constituency.

The award has been bestowed on the likes of Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, former Ministers of Women Affairs, and Information, Dr. Hajo Sani and Mr. Labaran Maku, and others.

“We observed that Gaza is just, straight forward, he has foresight. We also checked his activities at the House and found that he is doing a great job there. We also observed that he is not doing politics with hypocrisy and does not look down on people. He also uses his knowledge the right way. These are some of the reasons we are giving him this award,” Zamani said.