Kaduna — As part of efforts to pull out youths from the streets, the Executive Secretary of Kaduna State Industrial Micro-credit management, Edward Pecey, has disclosed that 600 youths would be trained by the board on different skills acquisition.

Edward said this yesterday while defending the 2013 budget before the state House of Assembly, noting that 200 youths would be selected from each of the three senatorial districts of the state for the training and that preference would be given to women in rural areas.

He further explained that the training is aimed at reducing youths' restiveness by pulling them from the streets and making them self reliant and responsible, noting that the best vehicle that can be used to reach the youths is the micro-credit board.

According to him, N500 million has been proposed for the programme, explaining that while N50 million would be used for the training, the bulk of the N450 million would be used for the revolving loan. The board, he said, will work closely with NDE and Ministry of Labour and Productivity to achieve the desired success.

He also stated that plans are ongoing to give soft loans ranging from N5,000 - N20,000 to traders in the localities to help boost their businesses.

"The micro-credit loan is what can reach people at the grassroots and that is why we have come up with a policy to train people from all villages, wards, districts and local governments. After training them, we will counsel them and give loans to those who will be interested because we don't want a situation whereby we will just give out loans without training. We will be more comfortable to give loans to people who are trained," he stressed.

On how to reach the people in the rural areas, Pecey noted that the board will carry out a sensitization campaign to all emirs and chiefs so that they can be aware of the programme as well as encourage the people.

The chairman, House Committee on Commerce and Industry, Mohammed Bello Shuaibu, assured the board of its support towards achieving success of the programme, noting that such programme will help to reach local women.

"The issue of giving out money to people generally should be a thing of the past. It is better to teach people how to fish than giving them fish," he said.