Vice President Kashim Shettima has stated that the youths of Kano are not lazy when it comes to business, adding that they only need support to grow their enterprises.
Shettima made this known on Saturday during the launch of a skills training program for 150 youths and women, organized by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) in Kano.
The Vice President, who was represented by Musaddiq Mustapha Adam, the Special Assistant to the President on Local Government Infrastructure Affairs in the Office of the Vice President, said NASENI has opened the door for youths to achieve self-reliance.
He said he is aware of the challenges youths face in Kano in their quest for livelihoods.
"I know what life is like for a young person trying to establish themselves. I know what it means when you see your peers struggling to make ends meet through small trades or riding tricycles, waiting for an opportunity to come. It is not out of laziness, but because the door of opportunity has not been opened for them," he said.
Shettima commended the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Khalil Halilu, for this program, stating that it aligns with President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope agenda.
In his remarks, the Chairman of NASENI, Khalil Halilu, said the aim of the program is to give youths the opportunity to become self-reliant through skills acquisition.
He explained that this is one of the programs the agency has launched to empower young people.
Halilu added that the program covers various sectors, including agriculture, science and technology, renewable energy, and others.
He said the goal is to equip youths, especially women, with skills that will enable them to stand on their own without relying solely on the government.
"We do not want people to continue to depend solely on the government. We want to give them the skills and opportunities to make an impact in their communities, while ensuring that this progress is sustainable," Halilu said.