The Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has unveiled plans to rejuvenate the moribund garment industry in Kano with a commitment to create job opportunities for 63,000 youths.
Governor Yusuf spoke on Monday while reopening the state garment cluster in Kura Local Government Area, Kano, eight years after the closure of the industrial hub across the 44 local government areas by the immediate past administration.
Governor Yusuf, who expressed satisfaction over the revival of the garment clusters, which was established under Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s administration between 2011 and 2015, said the reactivation has significantly marked a bold step towards fulfilling his campaign promises.
“What we are witnessing now is the fulfilment of a campaign promise. With this initiative, we aim to create at least 63,360 jobs annually in the garment industry. Beneficiaries will earn an average monthly income of seventy thousand naira (₦70,000),” the governor stated.
Governor Yusuf also issued a strong warning to unpatriotic individuals involved in the theft of machines deployed to the clusters in some local government areas, emphasizing that such actions would not be tolerated.
Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Investment, Alh. Shehu Wada Sagagi commended the governor for the moral support to pilot the revitalization of the legal project initiated several years ago.
Sagagi worried that the prolonged shutdown of the cluster has brought about youth idleness and triggered joblessness amid a huge teeming young population.
The Commissioner assured the ministry’s unwavering commitment to reopening the garment clusters across the 44 local areas thereby reducing urban migration and idleness.
In their respective remarks, Professor Murtala Sabo Sagagi of Dangote Business School and Alhaji Sa’id Dattijo Adhama commended the governor’s efforts in revitalizing the garment project, describing it as a significant boost to youth empowerment and economic development in the state.