NEDC begins empowerment training of 30 youths on stove fabrications, others in Bauchi

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By Samuel Luka, Bauchi

The North-East Development Commission (NEDC) has commenced a one week training for 30 youths on fabrication of efficient stoves and briquette production in the region.

Speaking during the commencement of the training in Bauchi on Monday, Mr Adamu Lawan, Head of Environment and Natural Resources of the Commission, said the training is titled ‘waste to wealth’ under the scheme.

He explained that the trainees, five each from Borno, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe and Taraba states, comprises of artisans and scavengers would be effectively taught how to fabricate energy efficient stoves.

According to him, The stove is environmentally friendly and acceptable globally, adding that the model of the stove was initially adopted in India.

“Since the inception of the commission, the main mandate is to develop the North East and part of the development is job creation”, Adamu Lawan said.

“And we have seen that there are so many graduates on the streets, there are no more white collar jobs, so we start thinking outside the box”, he said.

The head of environmental and natural resources of the Commission, said that the trainer was in Kenya who emerged one of the best in West Africa in fabrication of the stove.

“So, we feel this is a very good idea for us in the North East to train our people so that they will be producing and selling it themselves to earn a living and to also become employers of labour,” he said.

Lawan, who stated that most of the stoves used in the country emit carbon monoxide, however, explained that the type of stove that would be fabricated by the trainees would be environmentally friendly.

He added that it had been tested and the briquette which is like the charcoal they were going to be using is from solid and agricultural wastes.

“It is not going to negatively impact the environment in any way.” He said.

On the cost implication for the training, Lawan pointed out that the NEDC has paid for the training, the trainees’ transportation, their accommodation and feeding.

He noted that the starter packs which costs millions of naira were going to be given to them after the completion of the training.

Also speaking, the trainer, Mr Saleh Yahmut said that the fuel for the stove would be extracted from rice husks, sugarcane peels, groundnut shells, coconut shells and sawdust.

He added that every available waste from the farm or from the house was a potential raw material for the fuel.

“With this innovation, there will be no more cutting of trees,” he said.

One of the beneficiaries who spoke on behalf of others, Yaku Ismail, appreciated NEDC for the kind gesture and promised to listen attentively during the training session with a view to making effective, the knowledge gained.