GAZELLE PARTNERS FIDELITY BANK ON EMPOWERING 500 YOUTH IN KEBBI STATE
Oct, 14th 2016
In a bid to strengthen and empower youth in Kebbi State, the Gazalle Academy Vocational Centre in partnership with Fidelity Bank has trained 500 youth in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital in areas such as shoe, bag and belt making, tailoring, beading and stoning on fabric, pattern drafting and fish farming among others.
AtikuVision KebbiState correspondents who witnessed the closing ceremony at the premises of Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic Permanent site reports that the training session was a tremendous success.
Our correspondents also gathered that this training is the first in the northern Nigeria since the inauguration of the Gazalle Academy Initiative Centre, hence Kebbi State is first to benefit from this initiative in the northern part of Nigeria.
The Kebbi State Governor, His Excellency Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu in his keynote address expressed that he was very delighted to witness the closing ceremony of the Gazelle Academy training in partnership with Fidelity Bank.
The Governor also indicated that in the past few weeks, he has witnessed so many entrepreneurship training initiatives in the state all of which are geared towards supporting the quest of Federal and State government towards empowering youths across Nigeria.
Governor Atiku Bagudu thanked the organisers of the Gazelle Academy training for youth empowerment and development. He also appreciate the efforts of Fidelity Bank for the kind gesture towards the good people of Kebbi State.
His Excellency further thanked the management of Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State for playing host to the programme.
Governor Bagudu called on the trainees of the Gazelle programme to ensure they adequately practice the skills they have learnt during the training session. He said entrepreneurship is now the only alternative left for Nigerians to thrive in light of the recession facing the nation.
The Governor encouraged the participants to imbibe humility. He indicated that humility becomes paramount in running a business if success must be recorded. He urged all participants at the training to be very patient and tolerant in their dealings with people within and outside the country.
Governor Bagudu said his government is seriously focused on how Kebbi State can feed Nigeria as a whole. He said his government is giving massive support to farmers across the State in order to achieve this goal sooner than later.
He finally said it is important for all to believe strongly in themselves and pursue their goals in life for the benefit of their immediate family, community, State and Nigeria at large.
The Keynote speaker and the founder of BEN Television in the United Kingdom, Mr Aritre Shoyode said in his address that Kebbi State is a wonderful land, it is a State to be proud of in Nigeria. He also said he flew in from London to attend the Gazelle programme in Kebbi State.
Mr Shoyode called on the trainees to be very dedicated in whatever they do. He also asked that they should love their Country as much as they love themselves thus everything becomes easy and achievable for them.
He said Kebbi State is lucky to have an intelligent leader like Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu. Adding that with such initiatives and continued support from the government, Kebbi State will soon be untouchable among peers.
The host of the Gazelle training, rector of the Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic, Arc Muhammad Sani Aliyu said he sincerely welcomes all guest and trainees to the closing ceremony. The Rector indicated that the Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic and the Entrepreneurehip Development Centre was chosen because the building was built through the intervention provided by His Excellency Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu during his time as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Also speaking, Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Nigeria who was ably represented by the Manager of Fidelity Bank Sokoto branch, Alhaji Abdulrahman expressed that he was highly delighted to partner with Gazelle Academy in training youths in Kebbi State. Saying further that theirs was part of the banks corporate social responsibility with the aim of empowering youths and building creative mindsets.
The Managing Director also said the training targeted 200 participants in Kebbi State were targeted but over 500 youths were trained. He called for partnership with the State government for more initiatives that will benefit the State.
Accordingly, the Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, Mr Chris Moope who spoke briefly said Kebbi State is setting the pace in Nigeria in entrepreneurship development.
He also said His Excellency Governor Atiku Bagudu is a big brother to the bank of industry. He then encouraged the Governor to continue to support the Bank of Industry in all of its activities.
In her remark the founder of Gazelle Academy, Mrs Muna Unuozo appreciated the contribution made by the Kebbi State government. She also thanked the management of Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic Birnin Kebbi for playing host to the training.
She equally thanked the Fidelity Bank Nigeria for the wonderful support throughout the programme. She indicated that the training in Kebbi State would never have been a success without the actual support of the Bank.
In her vote of thanks, the Senior Special Assistant to the Kebbi State Governor on New Media, Aisha Augie-Kuta thanked Gazelle Academy, Fidelity Bank, Kebbi State Government under the good leadership of His Excellency Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, and the management of the Polytechnic for making the event successful.
Certificates were provided by to the trainees by the State Governor.