On Monday, March 10, Rev. Father Maurice Kwairanga revealed that there are 27,986 unemployed people in Taraba State, making up 1.9% of the population. He shared this worrying statistic during a program organized by the Catholic Diocese of Jalingo’s Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC).
Father Kwairanga explained how unemployment leads to crime, militancy, and social unrest, affecting both individuals and society as a whole.
To help tackle this problem, the Diocese launched a new skills training program called “From the Street to the Credence.” The program aims to train 100 disadvantaged youths in different trades like masonry, carpentry, tailoring, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. Father Kwairanga emphasized that by promoting entrepreneurship and providing youths with practical and tech skills, they can find jobs, support themselves, and contribute to national development.
Rev. Father Clement Tiba, the JDPC Coordinator for Jalingo Diocese, shared that the commission has been working on empowering youth and women, protecting human rights, and promoting clean water and food security since the 1990s. He noted that many communities in Taraba still lack access to clean water, but JDPC, in partnership with organizations like Misereor from Germany, has been helping to bring water and sanitation solutions to these areas.
Bishop Charles Hammawa also spoke out, urging parents to encourage their children to work hard and not rely solely on financial support from them. He encouraged young people to start small businesses or learn vocational skills, saying that persistence in these areas could lead to long-term success.
