Bauchi Govt empowers 575 commercial sex workers with vocational skills

No fewer than 575 commercial sex workers in Bauchi State are to be trained and empowered with various skills to make them self-reliant and encourage them to stop prostitution.

Speaking at the flag-off of the training which held at Bayangari in Bauchi on Monday, the Permanent Commissioner in charge of Hisbah and Shariah Matters in the State Shariah Commission, Barrister Aminu Isa, said that the training which commences would last for three months.

According to him, the beneficiaries would be trained and empowered in tailoring, hairdressing, make-up, catering, cosmetology, poultry and fishery, computer literacy and micro enterprise enhancement.

Isa explained that 60 of them would undergo training in poultry and fishery, 50 in computer literacy, 100 each in tailoring and hairdressing, 75 each would be trained in make-up, catering and cosmetology, while the remaining 40 would be trained in micro enterprise enhancement.

“We are here on this auspecious occasion to flag-off skills acquisition training for 575 registered women residing in this area. The training is part of the state government’s effort to provide the prerequisite vocational skills to the trainees and empower them to achieve self sustainability and independence.

“You could recall that sometimes last year we were here to take your proper headcount with a view to advise the government on the next line of action as regards to your current social status of joblessness and indolence.

“As the listening governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, has responded to our request and mandated us to first, train you and equip you with the basic vocational skills for future empowerment programme under its popular Kaura Economic Empowerment Programme.

“I have no doubt that after the training, we would still come back here to put a smile in your good faces by either providing you with the working tools or the seed capital to enable you establish some micro businesses for self to achieve self reliance.

“You are expected to undergo a three month training in eight specialized skills as follows: Tailoring, hairdressing, make-up, catering, cosmetology, poultry and fishery, computer literacy and micro enterprise enhancement.

“I call on you to make the best use of this opportunity by concentrating your attention during the training as we would issue you with certificates of attendance,” he said.

The Hisbah Commissioner stressed that any of the trainees who fails to measure up to expectation during the training will not be considered when the empowerment tools are being distributed, pointing out that “you will definitely be examined after the training to determined your ability and capabilities in your areas of vocation.”

According to him, from the census carried out last year, there are a total of 589 commercial sex workers from 17 states and two African countries.

He said: “We have a comprehensive and authentic list of your names and your states and we will give you equal and fair treatment to make you more productive and inventive.

“Going by our data, Abia 48 – Abia, Enugu and Delta states; Gombe – 49; Borno, Kano and Kaduna – 56; Jigawa – 26; Plateau and Adamawa – 41; Taraba – 36; Imo – 25; enue, Cross Rivers, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom – 85 and Bauchi – 212. Those from outside the country are: Republic of Cameroon – 5 and Chad – 6.”

He charged them to continue to live in peace by respecting the society’s extant rules and observe decency and decorum by exhibiting the fear of God, while assuring them that the administration of Governor Bala Mohammed, has concern for their plight and would do everything possible to make their lives better.

The Commissioner of Religious Affairs, Umar Kesa, in his speech, said the empowerment training was government’s fulfilment to the commercial sex workers during the headcount that was done last year.

“After about a year that we promised you and after adequate planning, I am glad we are here to flag-off this training. This empowerment is geared towards making you self-reliant because nobody would want to see his daughter or sister in this kind of business,” he said.