The Kwara Government says it will empower 5,400 youths under the first phase of its "Quick Win Empowerment and Employment" programme.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Isiaka Gold, told newsmen on Monday in Ilorin that Quick Win was a rapid and affordable intervention programme designed to move youths from unemployment to empowerment.

Gold, who is also the Chairman of the committee on Quick Win, said the 5,400 youths were part of the 8,200 youths the government intended to employ this year.

He said that the state government had also established the Kwara Environmental Corps with the engagement of 1,100 youths.

He said members of the corps would receive N7,500 monthly stipend each, and serve as first responders to clean, neat and tidy environment, and enforce the state environmental and KWEPA laws.

He said that the state government had provided N61 million take-off capital for the Environmental Corps, adding that its establishment was in line with government's desire to keep the environment clean for healthy and aesthetic values.

He also said that the government had engaged 1,872 graduates and non-graduate youths in entrepreneurship schemes.

The SSG said the 1,872 were the first phase of the beneficiaries, and would receive two-week entrepreneurship training at the Kwara State University, and the Kwara State Polytechnic.

Gold said that the trainees would receive N5,00 monthly stipend, and would also undergo internship with renowned entrepreneurs.

He said that the non-graduate beneficiaries would be trained for about 12 months under master trainers at skills centres.

He said that the trainees would be clustered into cooperatives and provided micro-credit to start their own businesses based on the production of viable business plans.

Gold said that another 1,872 beneficiaries would be engaged under the government's "Clean and Green" programme and would receive N7,500 monthly stipend each. (NAN)