FG using skills acquisition to counter terrorism, says presidential aide

Abiola Arogundade, senior special assistant to the president on technical, vocational and entrepreneurial education, says the federal government is using skills acquisition programmes to counter terrorism in the country.

Speaking with reporters in Abuja on Tuesday, Arogundade said her office is putting these programmes in place in partnership with the office of the national security adviser (NSA).

“We are also working with the office of the NSA. What they are trying to do is counter-terrorism and the way they want to do that is through skills,” she said.

“So we are working with them on skills and to train people to make sure that they do not become terrorists. If they already are, bring them out.”

The aide said at the Kuje correctional centre in the federal capital territory (FCT), trainings in different skills are ongoing.

“So, what we are going to be doing is also donating more state-of-the-art sewing machines. They complained a lot about computers, so we are also donating laptops,” she added.

“Not only are we going to be training, we are also going to be leaving behind some equipment they can use to develop their skills.

“We have six months of training, we have nine months of training. So it depends on what you want to do.

“But our target is to start with people who are closer to the end of their sentence, so that as you are going out, you are going out with the skills and we will release the N500,000 to you.

“We will also mentor you and teach you how to start up a business just to make sure you don’t become a second-time offender. We rehabilitate you into the community.”

Arogundade added that other correctional centres would soon be included in the programme, to ensure inmates in different prison facilities are empowered with skills for life beyond bars.