Gov. Yahaya Enhances Human Capital Development

Ben Ngwakwe

Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya,a development strategist, political gateway could be referred as “talk na do”, and great achiever in human capital development and other infrastructural developments in the state within the short period of two years and nine months.

Aside his social development projects, the government under the leadership of Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya established a security outfit named Gombe Security, Traffic, and Environmental Corps, “GOSTEC” which has recruited 500 youths, with another 500 planned for Batch “B”, thereby fulfilling the target of empowering youths in line with the philosophy of the present administration. 

The governor who had initially promised to empower more than 20,000 youths by providing reliable means of livelihood, has no doubt kept his words.  One can say without fear of contradiction that over 70 percent of the promises have been achieved within the space of time.

Now, nobody is talking about the completed 100km roads which he promised to all eleven local government areas even as he initiated new road projects to cover all corners of the state. 

Investigations revealed that more than 85percent of the promises made during election campaigns have been achieved with the few remaining nearing completion as at time of filing this report.

The epoch making event was that GovernorYahaya witnessed another batch of young men and women at the passing- out parade ceremony of the Gombe Security, Traffic and Environmental Corps (GOSTEC) at Amada Orientation camp in Akko Local Government Area at the weekend. It will be recalled that his administration designed and initiated the outfit to provide employment opportunities, reduce crimes and criminality, and provide foods for thousands of families as well as adding to socio- economic development of Gombe State.

We recall that the Gombe Security,Traffic and Environmental Corp “GOSTEC” is an initiative and home-grown innovation aimed at harnessing the energies of the youths and empower graduates and non-graduates in the task of nation building.

Increasingly, this development is in line with the human capital development initiative of “Dan- Majen Gombe,” Governor, Mohammadu Inuwa Yahaya.

It will be noted that history was also made as people witnessed the passing out of the second Batch of 500 GOSTEC trainees after two weeks of rigorous intensive training by the state government in collaboration with the At-Risk Children Project (ARC-P) national office.

These youths underwent training on the operational rudiments in the areas of Traffic, Security and Environmental management even as the state government had put all the necessary measures to ensure the successful posting of the youths to their respective duty posts for immediate engagement across the 114 wards of the eleven local government areas. 

With the accomplishment so far achieved with the Batch A corps personnel, the state government began the recruitment and engagement of another 500 Batch intake that went into the similar rigorous training processes.

The governor further noted that the engagements of these youths will continue until they meet the target of empowering 20,000 individuals in the state.

Governor Yahaya urged them as pioneers of the programme to uphold and strive hard and use the knowledge and skills acquired in the cause of their trainings to discharge their assigned responsibilities efficiently.

“You should work smart and interrelate professionally with other existing government agencies for harmonious working relationship and making Gombe State better as you function respectively. We expect the best in performance, attitude and also being good ambassadors of our programmes and policies for improving human capital development in our dear state.”

“We are optimistic that the engagement of these personnel corps graduating today in various cadres will improve and enhance the enforcement of traffic, security and environmental laws and order in the state significantly. I implore all to give them the necessary support and encouragement to discharge their duties well for our collective benefits”.  

 He reiterated the administration’s commitment to continue to partner with all relevant national and international organizations, development partners, traditional institutions, civil society and religious groups to improve the living standards of the people and create decent and sustainable jobs for the teeming youth population. 

He explained that the initiative and other ones like the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park have been working tirelessly towards completion of the first phase of the project at Dadin Kowa which is expected to employ more than 10,000 youths.

 He also disclosed that they are planning to commence another programme that would empower more than 5,000 women across the 114 political wards with various small scale business skills and starter packs for earning a living and support to families, adding that his administration is committed to ending youth restiveness by providing adequate opportunities and necessary entrepreneurial skills towards engaging them in decent jobs for overall development of the state.

 However, the menace of using the youth in political violence and criminality will not be tolerated by the government, even as he promised to end the “Kalare” activity in the state by the Grace of God.

He expressed appreciations to the consultancy firm responsible for the training as well as the immeasurable supports from the hardworking para-military agencies working together to ensure that the trainees acquired the desired operational skills in their respective tasks as well as various stakeholders that contributed immensely to the realization of GOSTEC,most especially the offices of Gombe State Human Capital Development under Barrister Sani Ahmed Haruna and the Special Adviser to the President on Social Investment under the leadership of Haj. Maryam Uwais. 

“This achievement is worth commending. We are indeed proud of your commitment which has made Gombe State a mode”,while congratulating the GOSTEC marshals for their passing out ceremony, charging them to imbibe lessons learnt towards successful discharge of their duties and responsibilities.

Yahaya who was represented by his Deputy, Dr.Manassah Daniel Jatau performed the graduation ceremony on behalf of the governor who was attending other state functions and engagements.

 However, the governor charged the youths to be good ambassadors as their responsibility is to enhance enforcement of traffic, security and environmental laws to complement the existing security personnel in the state.

He stated that his administration is committed to providing conducive atmosphere for people to contribute their quota to development of the state through collaboration with non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations and all those that showed commitment to cause of the state and humanity.

He further explained that the government will recruit 2,000 youths in the scheme that will come in batches of 500 each, pointing out that soon another batch will commence training.

 Earlier, Special Adviser to the President on Social Investment, Hajiya Maryam Uwais commended the initiative of Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, describing it as delightful and encouraging.   She hoped the programme would be sustained towards ensuring the safety and security of the people.

 Also, Special Adviser to the Governor Yahaya on Human Capital Development, Barriser.Ahmed Sani Haruna presented 500 youths who were successfully trained in the areas of security, traffic and environment.

He said, the rankings included Superintendent 1, 2, 3 and 4, adding that while graduates belong to the category of Superintendent 1, NCE and Diploma belong to Superintendent 2, and secondary leavers and those without qualifications belong to Superintendent 3 and 4 respectively.

 He said, this is in line with the administration’s commitment to carry out an all inclusive development that will affect all people irrespective of whether they have qualifications or not.

In their respective speech, Chairman, Committee on Citizenship and Leadership Training, AIG Zubairu Muazu (rtd) and coordinator of the programme, Wing Commander Sarki. Ibrahim (rtd) said the GOSTEC trainees are trained in various skills to provide services such as corporate, group and military, protection of assets, human and properties, management of traffic and protection of environment so that they can serve the state better.

 They said the training was to enhance their performance with knowledge in carrying out their respective responsibilities, adding that the training included physical and psychological drills, interactions among themselves and the instructors among others.