The US Exchange Alumni, Sokoto State Chapter, has urged the expansion of youth mentorship programs focused on education, business skills, and empowerment initiatives that connect young people to global opportunities.
This call was made by the Association’s Co-chairman, Alhaji Sani Umar-Jabbi, during a lecture commemorating World Population and Youth Skills Day on Thursday in Sokoto. Umar-Jabbi, who also serves as the District Head of Gagi in Sokoto-South Local Government Area, highlighted the strategic programs undertaken by alumni members aimed at improving the well-being of citizens.
He emphasized the significance of acquiring practical skills in addition to academic qualifications and noted that the association actively encourages students and citizens to engage in productive activities. Umar-Jabbi called on both government and non-governmental organizations to intensify efforts in managing population growth through best practices and to allocate resources towards improving living standards.
Proactive measures, according to Umar-Jabbi, are essential for effective demographic planning and fostering productive engagement through skill development to enhance the quality of life. He also urged the community to promote awareness of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), support gender equality, empower women, and ensure access to quality healthcare and education.
Alhaji Malami Marafa-Gagi, the State Director of the National Population Commission (NPC), delivered a lecture on global population growth trends and the consequences of poor planning, highlighting the low healthcare and educational indices in Sokoto state. Marafa-Gagi stressed the importance of inclusive population data for modern demographic planning, advocating for the use of advanced data collection tools and Information Technology (IT) to ensure accuracy.
He also emphasized the NPC’s collaboration with national, state, and non-governmental agencies in data collection efforts.
Another alumni member, Mr. Mus’ab Hassan-Bodinga, spoke on “Youth Skills for Peace and Development,” pointing out various opportunities in Sokoto state and its environs that youths could capitalize on for profitable outcomes. Hassan-Bodinga encouraged participants to take advantage of the American Corner at Usmanu Danfodio University Sokoto (UDUS) to access global opportunities and partnerships.
He also advised students to explore innovative areas such as digital marketing, information technology, modern business practices, agricultural production, and leather technology.
