North Gets Largest Part Of British Support To Nigeria, UK Envoy Says

Mr. Pocock says, “We work very closely in particular with Kano state because we believe that the institutions of the state under the leadership of the state governor give results and the results are what we are interested in.”

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Andrew Pocock, has said that 60 per cent of British government’s donation to Nigeria goes to the Northern part of the country.

“60 per cent of the British development assistance that we put into this country comes into the Northern Nigeria”, said Mr Pocock, adding that this is because the United Kingdom is deeply concerned about the development of the region.

He disclosed this on Tuesday during the graduation and presentation of empowerment grants/facilities to 1,907 youth and women trained on horticultural skills and home-based trades by the Kano state government. The event was held at Government House, Kano.

“We work very closely in particular with Kano state because we believe that the institutions of the state under the leadership of the state governor give results and the results are what we are interested in,” Mr. Pocock said.

“The example this state gives today is unanimously important – gathering of graduates who have been empowered on vocational training particularly in the agricultural area. It is good to see men given professions and I have to say it is particularly good to see women being empowered in this way.

“It is solid truth of developmental economists that where women are given a chance to own a sustainable living, the health and wealth of their families and of the communities and of the states massively improve.”

The British High Commissioner congratulated the state government and beneficiaries of its empowerment programmes, expressing the hope that the state would soon be able to overcome its security challenges.

Speaking during the occasion, the state governor, Rabi’u Kwankwaso said N210 million was spent on the programmes, explaining that the beneficiaries include 500 (11th batch) youth trained on poultry farming, 400 (4th batch) trained on aquaculture, 132 (7th batch) trained on livestock, 275 (1st batch) on horticulture, 600 (6th batch) youth and less privileged women trained in home-based trading.

Mr. Kwankwaso appealed to beneficiaries to make good use of what is given to them as capital in order to be self-employed and eventually employ others, thus alleviating poverty and unemployment in the society.

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**What do you guys think about this British High Commissioner's statements?