By Dr. Sada Rumah
The Katsina State Government has called for stronger collaboration with the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Katsina State Chapter, to provide employment opportunities for youths and attract more investors to the state.
Deputy Governor Alhaji Faruk Lawal Jobe made the call on behalf of the Governor, Malam Dikko Umar Radda, during a courtesy visit by the newly elected officials and elders of the ACF at the Government House, Katsina, on Monday.
Jobe said Governor Radda’s administration welcomes all developmental initiatives by the Forum aimed at complementing the government’s efforts in improving the lives of the people of the state. He commended the leadership of the ACF for its dedication, describing the members as respected and patriotic individuals committed to the progress of Katsina State.
The Deputy Governor highlighted some of the key achievements of the Radda administration, which include the ongoing reforms in the education sector through improved teaching standards and the recruitment of over 7,000 teachers. He also noted that the government has awarded foreign scholarships to outstanding youths in specialized fields, covering all their entitlements and study expenses.
Other notable achievements, according to Jobe, include the provision of clean and safe drinking water in both urban and rural areas, the distribution of modern agricultural tools and fertilizers, and the revitalization of major towns and cities under the state’s urban renewal programme. He added that the government has expanded the Katsina State Vocational Training Centre to empower youths with entrepreneurship skills and start-up capital.
The Deputy Governor reiterated the government’s commitment to partnering with the ACF in creating more job opportunities and attracting investors to Katsina State.
In his remarks, the Chairman of ACF Katsina Chapter, Alhaji Shehu Musa Malumfashi, informed the Deputy Governor that the current executive members of the Forum were elected last year and that the organization now has over 300 registered members.
Malumfashi said the Forum had embarked on various community-based activities, including voter education campaigns to encourage citizens to register and participate in elections. He added that the Forum also provided medical support to hospitals during outbreaks of typhoid fever and malaria in the state.
He reaffirmed the ACF’s commitment to working closely with the Katsina State Government to promote peace, unity, and socio-economic development, while expressing gratitude to the government for the warm reception accorded to the delegation.
During the visit, the ACF Chairman presented medical supplies and relief materials to the Deputy Governor as part of the Forum’s contribution to strengthening healthcare services across the state.
Those who accompanied the ACF delegation included the Forum’s Secretary, Alhaji Bello Iro Dabai; Publicity Secretary, Dr. Sada Salisu Rumah; Danwairen Katsina and his deputy, Alhaji Lawal Kasimu Funtua; as well as Alhaji Abdu Halliru, Alhaji Tukur Lamami, Dr. Ahmed Ingawa, and Alhaji Murtala Maikudi.
