The Sokoto State Government has announced plans to recruit additional personnel into the State Neighborhood Initiative and Sokoto Marshall as part of efforts to reduce unemployment, especially among youths.
Governor Ahmad Aliyu made the announcement during the closing ceremony of the Sheikh Usman Bin Fodiyo Week held at the Kasarawa Conference Center, Sokoto. He said the recruitment drive will create more job opportunities, engage idle youths, and reduce rising cases of youth involvement in criminal activities.
“The initiative is designed to train our youths in different fields to support conventional security agencies, particularly in crowd management, fire control, and traffic regulation,” the Governor said.
The Neighborhood Initiative, first introduced by Governor Ahmad Aliyu during his tenure as Commissioner for Social Welfare in Wamakko’s administration, is one of the state’s major community security and youth empowerment projects.
Governor Aliyu explained that a committee has been inaugurated to oversee the recruitment of 3,000 qualified indigenes into the state workforce, reaffirming his government’s commitment to tackling youth unemployment and restiveness.
Speaking on the significance of the Sheikh Usman Bin Fodiyo Week, the Governor stated that his administration will ensure that the literary works of the leaders of the Sokoto Caliphate are digitized and made accessible for research and educational purposes. “A committee will be established to handle the project so that our heritage and intellectual resources can be preserved for generations to come,” he added.
The Governor further emphasized his administration’s resolve to preserve the legacies of the founders of the Caliphate, particularly in diplomacy, security, moral values, and societal reorientation.
Governor of Taraba State, Dr. Agbu Kefas, who was also present at the event, commended the organizers for their efforts in promoting the works and contributions of the founding fathers of the Sokoto Caliphate.
In his remarks, Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III noted that many works of the Caliphate scholars remain unpublished. He called for continuous efforts to preserve and share their intellectual contributions, stressing that “the Sultanate Council remains committed to upholding the ideals of the Caliphate.”
The Chairman of the occasion, the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, described the Danfodiyo Week as an important platform that highlights the sacrifices and leadership of the Caliphate’s founders. He commended Governor Ahmad Aliyu for his support in ensuring the success of the event.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Planning Committee, Malam Lawal Mai Doki, said the Sheikh Usman Bin Fodiyo Week featured symposiums, quizzes, poetry presentations, and lectures.
A lecture titled “Sokoto Caliphate in Bilad Al-Sudan: State Formation, Statecraft, and State Fidelity in 19th Century Africa” was delivered by Dr. Usman Bugaje.
The ceremony ended with the presentation of awards to distinguished personalities and winners of the quiz and poetry competitions.
