The Bauchi State Hisbah Board has established a skill empowerment training to rehabilitate 575 commercial sex workers operating in the state in a bid to discourage them from prostitution and make them self-reliant.
It was gathered that 48 of the commercial sex workers in Bauchi are from Abia, Enugu, and Delta states; 49 from Gombe; 56 from Borno, Kano, and Kaduna; 26 from Jigawa; 41 from Plateau and Adamawa; 36 are from Taraba; 25 from Imo; 85 from Benue, Cross Rivers, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom and 212 from Bauchi.
Of the 575, eleven migrated from Cameroon and Chad.
The Permanent Commissioner in charge of Hisbah and Shariah Matters, Barrister Aminu Isa, who spoke at the notorious Bayan-gari on Monday, said the repentant sex workers will be trained in tailoring, hairdressing, make-up, catering, cosmetology, poultry and fishery, computer literacy and micro-enterprise enhancement.
He added that the training, which will begin immediately, will last for three months, and that 100 of them will be trained in tailoring and hairdressing and 75 will be trained in make-up, catering, and cosmetology.
The commissioner said, “This training is part of the state government’s effort to provide the prerequisite vocational skills to these trainees and empower them to achieve self-sustainability and independence.
“You would recall that sometime last year we were here to take your proper headcount with a view to advising the government on the next line of action as regards to your current social status of joblessness and indolence.
“I am glad to tell you that the government has approved a programmed to provide you with working tools or seed capital to enable you to establish some micro-businesses to achieve self-reliance.
“You are expected to undergo a three-month training in eight specialized skills as follows: Tailoring, hairdressing, make-up, catering, cosmetology, poultry and fishery, computer literacy and micro-enterprise enhancement. I call on you to make the best use of this opportunity by concentrating your attention during the training as we would issue you with certificates of attendance.
“Let me stress the fact that whoever fails to measure up to expectation during the training will not be considered when we come to distribute the empowerment tools. You will definitely be examined after the training to determined your ability and capabilities in your areas of vocation.”