By Lengnan Tobias
Gov. Ahmed Ododo of Kogi says the state’s investment in mining and jewellery craftsmanship is aimed at creating jobs for young people, unlocking the state vast mineral resources and addressing insecurity.
Ododo said this on Monday in Abuja, while inaugurating the Kogi Youth Mining and Jewellery Craftsmanship Empowerment Programme.
He noted that the state’s strategic location, bordering the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and several commercial centres made security a top priority for his administration.
“The security of Kogi is the security of the FCT. Any spillover of insecurity will affect the Federal Capital Territory, which is why we have taken the issue head-on,” he said.
The governor said that Kogi would not serve as a refuge for criminals, stressing that his administration would neither negotiate nor engage in dialogue with criminal elements.
He noted that the state’s rich mineral deposits had remained largely untapped, adding that the government was focused on developing them legally for the benefit of residents.
He listed the state’s abundant mineral resources to include gold, lithium, coal, beryllium, iron ore and gemstones, noting that the government was preparing young people with the technical skills needed to harness the resources.
According to him, the establishment of the state’s University of Science and Technology was a deliberate effort to produce graduates with expertise in mining and related fields rather than conventional disciplines alone.
Ododo also said that the partnership with a globally recognised mining and jewellery expert would equip Kogi youths with practical skills that would create employment and discourage illegal mining.
“We have promised our youths that we will not give them fish; we will teach them how to fish. By empowering them with these skills, they will take charge of our mineral resources instead of allowing illegal miners to exploit them,” he added.
The governor commended President Bola Tinubu for his commitment to youth development through policies and empowerment programmes that directly impacted the lives of young Nigerians.
According to him, the various interventions introduced by the Federal Government are intended to promote entrepreneurship, reduce unemployment and provide young people with sustainable means of livelihood.
He also commended Malivelihood, the programme’s training partner, for supporting the state’s drive to build a skilled workforce in the solid minerals sector.
In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Bashir Gegu, commended Ododo for placing youth empowerment at the centre of his administration’s development agenda.
He urged the participants to make the most of the opportunity by remaining committed to the training and applying the skills acquired to improve their lives and contribute to the state’s economy.
Earlier, the Managing Director of Malivelihood, Dr Olushola Awujoola, disclosed that the company received 16,900 applications from within and outside Kogi for the programme.
He said 13,900 applications were successfully reviewed, from which 20 participants were selected for the inaugural batch.
Awujuoola added that a second batch would commence immediately after the completion of the first phase.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Deborah Coker