Pubdate: Wed, 31 Mar 2004 Source: Daily Trust (Nigeria) Copyright: 2004 Daily Trust. Contact: http://www.mtrustonline.com/dailytrust/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2923 Author: Habiba Adamu Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) ENACT LAWS ON DRUG ABUSE, SOCIAL VICES - SPECIAL ADVISER An appeal has been made to Kano State government to enact a law that would check the menace of drug abuse, polical thuggery among others militating against youth development in the state. The appeal was made by the Special Adviser to the State Governor on youth development, Alhaji Gambo Ado at the launching of the State Youth Development Action Plan held recently in the state. Alhaji Gambo identified drug addiction, proliferation of video viewing houses, political thuggery and begging as the most social vices militating against youth development. He called on the government to enact a law to check the menace among youths in the state. The adviser also appealed to the State government to rehabilitate youth centre across the state and provide vocational training equipments and other recreational facilities to further reduce youth hardship and idleness. He further noted that youths, play a vital role in the societal development. Speaking during the occasion, the State Governor, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, enjoined youths to shun drug addiction, idleness and strive hard to engage in trades so as to earn a living. He said government would accord priority to youth development through comprehensive vocational training and skills acquisition programme geared towards creating jobs for unemployed youth in the state. Shekarau further indicated the intention of the state government to set-up village community relations committee geared toward boosting youth development. He explained that membership of the committees would include community elders within the locality who were to offer guidance and inculcate moral values to youths towards building a virile society. He then disclosed that the state government would provide fertilizer, farm inputs and tractors at subsidized rate to assist youths engage in farming. - --- MAP posted-by: Jackl