Gov Mala-Buni empowers 200 cash agents with N10 million

Bala Dauda,Damaturu

Gov Mai Mala-Buni of Yobe has approved N10 million as capital to 200 youths trained as money agents in the state.

Mala-Buni who gave the approval in Damaturu at the graduation ceremony of the trainees, said the training was in collaboration with Guarantee Trust Bank(GTB).

He said the bank provided resource persons for the training while the state would give each agent N50,000 as capital.

He noted that the youth empowerment programme would reduce idleness and assist the beneficiaries to become self-reliant.

“ The target beneficiaries were drawn from the 17 local governments of the state and would receive POS machines and other equipment donated by GTB,” Mala-Buni said.

He commended the bank for the support, as part of its social responsibilities and urged other corporate bodies to emulate it.

The governor warned the beneficiaries against selling the equipment, advising them to use them to improve their living conditions.

Mala-Buni said the state had also recently trained 185 youths on digital photography, adding that camera’s, photo printers and generators worth over N48 million were given to the youths.

He said the programme was in collaboration with the Office of Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-DGs).

He said the government had also provided 1,000 hectares of land and inputs for interested youths to engage in agriculture free.

Mala-Buni said government would buy produce from the farm after harvest and use same as certified seeds, in collaboration with Seed Council of Nigeria.

Earlier, the state SDGs Co-ordinator, Alhaji Musa Damagum, appealed to the governor to direct ministries and agencies to patronize the agents.

On behalf of the beneficiaries, Mallam Musa Adamu, thanked the state and GTB for the support, promising to use the equipment for the intended purposes.