Nasarawa to Prioritise Reproductive Health, Entrepreneurship

Nasarawa State Governor, Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura has restated the determination of his administration to pay special attention to the provision of reproductive health services and adequate information on sex education. The governor disclosed this at a public presentation of projects documents by the Nigerian Academy of Science in Lafia weekend, and added that Nasarawa State will introduce compulsory entrepreneurial subjects in tertiary institutions in the state. Al-Makura said the introduction of the subjects would help to inculcate the right attitude towards job creation and productivity among youths in the state. “The introduction of new subjects into the curricula of tertiary institutions would boost the knowledge base of graduates, offer them skills and provide them choices of creating employment opportunities for themselves rather than resort to white-collar jobs,” the governor stated. “We want to ensure that entrepreneurial skills are rooted in our tertiary institutions. By that I mean that virtually all the tertiary institutions would accommodate the recommendations of the document in their curriculum of instructions. Rather than wait for government for employment, if it comes fine, but if not, such graduate can survive on the already learnt skills,” he added. Al-Makura also disclosed that his administration has entered into a technical agreement with the Singaporean government to enhance the training of women and youths in various skills that would eventually engender industrial development. As part of giving the disabled and physically challenged in Nasarawa “a sense of belonging,” he stated that his government has built special schools for their knowledge and advancement. In a remark, President of the Nigerian Academy of Science, Prof. Oyewole Tomori thanked the Nasarawa state Government for partnering the academy and assured listeners that the academy was available for further partnership with the government for the benefit of the people. Vice Chancellor of the Federal University in Lafia, Prof. Ekanem Braide described Nasarawa State as “privileged” for being one of the pilot states in the implementation of the Academy’s strategic plan.