Kano State Government has trained and empowered over 250 people living with HIV/AIDS and other vulnerable groups in the state on various skills acquisition.
Aminu Bello-Sani, Public Relations Officer, Kano State Agency for the Control of Aids (SACA) revealed this in a statement issued to newsmen on Thursday in Kano.
According to him, the empowerment is to improve their well being and economic status in order to achieve sustainable development in the state.
Bello-Sani said that the Director General of the agency, Dr Sabitu Shanono while speaking at the graduation ceremony of the beneficiaries, said the empowerment would help to combat the high level of poverty and unemployment among them.
Shanono said that on Dec. 1, Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje inaugurated the programme as part of commemoration of World AIDS Day 2020.
“I am highly impressed with the zeal and excitement on your faces, and I expect you to utilise the equipment with adequate care to develop your life and well-being,” he said.
He pleaded with them to make optimum use of the skills acquired and the materials they received during the programme.
Shanono said that participants were trained on Makeup artistry, tailoring and leather working and were provided with everything needed.
While commending the efforts of the trainers, he said the empowerment would greatly contribute toward the development of the state’s economy.
Earlier, the Chairman, Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in the state, Nuhu Tela-Gaya commended the state government for the gesture to their members.
He equally enjoined their members to use the materials given to them, which included sewing machines, make up kits and shoe making machines to earn a living as most of them were either orphans, widows or divorcees.
The state government had recently enrolled 553 HIV/AIDS patients to access free healthcare services.
