Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso has organised training for the butchers in the state and plans to construct an ultra modern abattoir. The government had given out a free start-up capital of N88 million to 4,400 butchers in the state.
According to the report gathered, the butchers, received N20,000 each after their training on expert management of meat processing and retailing. In addition, they received a free aluminium glass meat display boxes, lab coats, aprons and caps.
Kwankwaso stated at the graduation of the first batch of trainees that the programme was part of a grand strategy by the state government through the Community Reorientation Council (CRC) to exploit youth’s entrepreneurial potential and help them become active private sector participants in moving the economy of the state forward.
The butchers who dressed in flowing white kaftans with red caps which is a symbol to signify support for the administration, during the start-up grant last thursday, were selected from 44 local government areas of the state.
Speaking during the occasion, the governor said the training provided to the butchers would not only improve their businesses but would go a long way in improving the health of the people of the state.
He called on the butchers to make the best use of the knowledge they had acquired by practising what they learnt during the training programme.
“The state government in collaboration with the local government councils will ensure that all our abattoirs are clean, you should always ensure that your environment is clean and sell your products at the only designated places,” he said.
Similarly, the state government had awarded a contract of N12. 9 million to modernise the barbecue grills along Bank Road in Kano metropolis.
“So you must ensure that you always look clean and tidy because we selected you to improve your businesses and government’s reintroduction of the sanitary inspectors was aimed at improving the environmental sanitation across the state,” he said.
Furthermore, the Director, Agriculture Transformation Agenda (ATA) at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. A. I. Yamel, represented by Dr. Yahya Tanko, disclosed that in recognition of the efforts of the Kano State Government in training the butchers, the ATA will collaborate with GEMS 1, a programme supported by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) to upgrade three abattoirs in the state.
One of the trainees, who displayed suya (barbecue meat) during the graduation ceremony, Mallam Umar Ahmadu said: “I was encouraged by the government to stand on my feet with my suya business and I believe a lot of people will also be trained in the future from what I have learnt during the one week training. This free capital assistance will also boost my economic strength.”
Mallam Yahuza Musa from Kumbotso Local Government Area said he had been looking for the opportunity to raise the start-up capital for his business, but with the governor’s initiative, his hope had been brightened.
“Kwankwaso’s administration has impacted a lot of us. We are happy with his governance and we shall be forever grateful to him,” said Musa.