Ismail Adebayo in Birnin Kebbi
Kamba town, headquarters of Dandi Local Government Area of Kebbi State, last week Friday witnessed an historical event that may forever change the living conditions of its teeming youth.
The event was the empowerment of 370 Dandi LG youth in Kebbi North on solar energy installation, repairs, maintenance, carpentry and woodwork by Dr Suliaman Abubakar Fana Alliance Forum (SUFAF) in collaboration with A.R Renewable Energy Integrated Services. No fewer than 50 of the youth are planned for the first phase of the training program.
By the design of the empowerment program, the youth will undergo a 3 day training on installation, repairs and maintenance of solar energy and they are expected to be equipped with the necessary enabling tools and cash at their graduation.
The Town Hall and Conference Center venue of the program along Kangiwa Road in Kamba was filled to capacity as royal fathers and their representatives, religious leaders, community elders, party supporters, loyalists, associates of Dr Suliaman Abubakar Fana and government functionaries were in attendance to witness the historic event.
While speaking to journalists on the objectives of the program, Dr Suliaman said the empowerment was aimed at curbing the seasonal migration of the youth in that part of Kebbi State to other states in the country in search of means of survival and to guarantee his community of the sustainability of their solar energy usage, repairs and maintenance without stress.
He said "This is to assist our teeming youth who are largely depends on government jobs. In this area of Kebbi our people largely reply on solar energy for lighting their communities. They need people who can make this sustainable for them. Whenever they get faculty they go to far places looking for who to repair it for them. With this training the youth will get something to survival and live on and people we no longer need to take the risks of traveling far to get maintenance experts. We used equity in selecting them from all the wards of the local government. We selected 50 of the youth for the first phase. But in all we are targeting 370 youth not only for this but for other empowerments such as carpentry etc.
They are expected to be trained for 3 days. At their graduation we will support them with necessary tools and cash for them to succeed in their undertakings".
Dr Suliaman added that the gesture was not about politics. "I was in politics courtesy of my people who asked me to come and lead them in the state house of assembly. This is the little they know about me but soon they will know me more. We have been into many things like this for the development of the people and our community.
Earlier in his speech, chairman of SUFAF, Bello Salihu Fana said the forum was created to honour Dr Suliaman Fana's gesture, numerous assistance and support to Dandi Local Government and it's people. "This is why we have decided to support his aspiration and decision to contest the state house of assembly elections. He has done so much for the community. His efforts have brought development to people and Dandi communities. With people like him in the state assembly Dandi will be moved to greater heights. Please let's give Dr Suliaman the support to lead us, let him help us more, let him bring more development to Dandi", he said.
In his speech, former principal of Kanta College in Kamba, Bala Abubakar Gado Kamba said Dr Suliaman has sponsored many students in the area in their NECO and WAEC examinations."He said he has given scholarships go many who are today in the universities and to many others who had graduated. The reasons students from Fana are passing WAEC and NECO is because of the contribution of Dr Suliaman. He has embarked on rehabilitation and renovation of Islamic Schools, renovation and construction of health centres, medical outreach, reconciliation of broken marriages, provides scholarships. He is a good man and a scholar of PHD in Extension and Rural Development." He urged people of Dandi to vote Dr Suliaman in the house of assembly elections for him to continue his Philanthropist works to the communities.
Different speakers and personalities who spoke in turns at the event commended the solar power installation, repairs and maintenance initiative of the house of assembly APC candidate urging the community to ensure his victory in the coming election. Former security adviser to Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Col Rabiu Kamba (rtd) while lauding the empowerment initiative said the APC is desirable of people like Dr Suliaman to help people of Dandi and create development in the area. "This solar power installation repairs and maintenance initiative will be development to Dandi, it's people and beneficiaries. With this our youth be self reliant, people will no longer have to wait for NEPA". He enjoined people to come out in large numbers to vote him.
Personalities such as Engineer Ismail Rikoto, Dr Kabir Kamba, Representative of the Ministry for Environment and others pay glowing tributes to his initiative describing it as way forward for the development of Dandi and it's people, particularly youth.
A beneficiary, Sufiyanu Samaila Fana who spoke on behalf of other beneficiaries commended Dr Suliaman for the gesture promising he and others will put in everything to make his effort and dream become reality for them and Dandi communities
