The Kano State Government says it has spent more than N35.8 million to empower 137 youths in various trades in tourism and hospitality related courses.

A statement signed by the Director of Press, Halilu Dantiye on Thursday in Kano said that Gov. Rabi'u Kwankwaso, had urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the money.

He disclosed that some of the beneficiaries were trained in leather works, hospitality and tourism studies, as well as in ICT among other things.

The governor said that the money was also disbursed to artisans as start-up capitals to enable them acquire necessary facilities and equipment to stand on their own.

He explained that those students, who trained in leather works would share N1.5 million, while N2.1 million would be shared among 14 graduates, who trained in art and design,

According to him, N2.4 million would be shared among another 16 graduates of interior decoration.

Other grandaunts at the occasion were 374 youths who participated in the NEPAD training, where 40 youths were trained on preservation of perishable items,

Another 40 were trained on hatchery, 25 students trained on animal feed production and 20 youths studied machine fabrication techniques.

The governor explained that the idea was for the youth to be self-employed from the skills they acquired at the training centres.

Kwankwaso called on private organisations to complement government's efforts, pointing out that government alone cannot provide jobs for the teeming unemployed youths in the state. (NAN)