Economy
THE Katsina Consultative Forum (KCF) has conducted a dialogue where experts discussed poverty and proffered solutions for its eradication in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the dialogue, which was the second one organised by the forum had the theme: “Strategies for Poverty Eradication in Katsina State”.
Earlier, the KCF Chairman, Alhaji Aminu Abubakar-Danmusa, highlighted some of their activities to include radio interactive sessions and campaigns against drugs and substance abuse.
He added that a town hall meeting for ward and village heads on the dangers associated with drugs abuse on youths was also conducted during the year, among other activities.
Abubakar-Danmusa said that they now focused on poverty eradication with a view to making the youths more responsible and contribute positively to the development of the society.
In his remarks, rge Chairman of the occasion, who is also the Wazirin Katsina’, Sen. Ibrahim Ida, called on the stakeholders to acknowledge the level and gravity of poverty in the state.
“Let us accept that it is a complex issue that requires the collective efforts, innovations, and the unwavering commitment of the governed and the government, if we are to address it,” he stressed.
Ida said that the dialogue provided a unique opportunity for experts, policymakers and other stakeholders to share knowledge, experiences, and ideas on how to tame poverty.
“We owe it to ourselves, our children, and future generations to act decisively and work collaboratively towards a poverty-free Katsina State.
“We, the citizens must stand to be counted in the supplementation of the needed resources first by paying our taxes, and then by dedicating a portion of what we have towards helping the government to help the same people,” he said.
The Guest Speaker, also the former Managing Director, Jaiz Bank, Mr Hassan Usman, decried that poverty has remained a significant challenge in the state.
He said that pervasive poverty was contributing immensely to societal challenges, including insecurity, illiteracy and drugs abuse, among others.
Usman, therefore, urged that the state should propose comprehensive strategies for alleviating the menace and engender economic development.
The strategies, he said, should focus on practical and sustainable development approaches.
They include agriculture transformation, education, skills acquisition development, and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) development.
Usman further called for increased investment in agriculture and education by the state government.
According to him, education reduces inequalities, promotes innovations and helps to achieve economic growth.
He said that the curriculum should also be reviewed to reflect the current needs of the society; enhance teacher quality and infrastructure.
According to him, it should also focus more attention on vocational training of the students to make them self reliant to reduce unemployment.
Gov. Dikko Radda, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abdullahi Garba-Faskari, said that the doors of the government remained open for meaningful contributions to enhance the living condition of people and develop the state.
Radda, who spoke extensively on the investment in agriculture and education, commended the forum for organising the dialogue to address some of the challenges in the state.(NAN)
30th December, 2024.
C.E.
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