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Taraba State Governor, Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku has challenged women and Youths in the State to be innovative and creative in the new skills they have acquired.
Governor Darius Ishaku stated this yesterday at the Jolly Nyame Stadium, Jalingo during the passing out ceremony of the first Batch of the Skills Acquisition Graduands which focuses on Women and Youths Empowerment, a brainchild of the Rescue Agenda of his administration tagged, “the Rescue Watch.”
Darius Ishaku maintained that not all will have the opportunity to be employed by the State Civil Service, hence the need to proactively engage women and Youths into viable ventures that will reposition the State and to make Taraba State a force to reckon with in the country in terms of export of locally made goods and to be self-reliant.
The Governor stated that the enthusiasm shown by the graduands during the period of their training had spurred him to as a matter of urgency kick start the processes of the Second Batch, explaining that, he will immediately instruct the Chief of Staff, who is the Coordinator of the programme on what to do.
He maintained that his vision of a greater tomorrow is gradually unfolding and that with the dexterity on the part of the graduands, Taraba women and Youths are determined to take Taraba State to the promise land.
Governor Darius Ishaku emphasised that the vision of the Rescue Watch, which is geared at engaging the various Communities in the State positively by knowing what they desire most and coming up with programmes that will improve their livelihood is gradually giving Government an insight to what the people of the State desires most.
Speaking further, the Governor said when he brought in more people on board as Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants, he was heavily criticised, however, today that action is giving three hundred and thirty-five women and Youths a means of sustenance and survival and which will eventually translate into training more people across the State to be self employed.
Governor Darius Ishaku however warned those that would want to sell off the equipment that have been procured for the start up their new businesses to desist as the implementers of the Rescue Watch programme will keep a close watch on them and will continually give him progress reports with a view to attracting government support and patronage, adding that, he is confident that, Taraba will be a force to be reckoned with in terms vibrant and upcoming entrepreneurs in the country.
In his speech, the Chief of Staff Government House, Hon. Rebo Usman asserted that the Mission of the present administration in meeting the needs and yearnings of the people of the State is no longer business as usual as it was the case in the past, pointing out that all Government programmes are closely being monitored by the Rescue Watch team with a view to reporting objectively to the Governor at all times.
Rebo Usman explained that to ensure its success, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants are grouped into their various Local Government of origin with a view to keeping closer watch 
on activities of Government at different levels and to also ensure adequate supervision and monitoring and to report back to the Governor monthly via an interactive session with a view to identifying each area and its peculiar needs.
To ensure its workability, the Chief of Staff disclosed that, all the one hundred and sixty-eight wards of the State has a contact person who informs the Rescue Watch team leader on happenings in each ward on a daily basis with a view to stimulating immediate Government response.
He further mentioned that the 335 graduands are the product of the Rescue Mission of his Excellency, Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku through the instrumentality of the Rescue Watch team, asserting that the exercise right from concept to its implementation was a process of meticulous planning.
The Chief of Staff pointed out that, the training programme was carefully outlined and today it is a huge success with every society having equal representation of two persons from each ward and stated that their trainers were also carefully selected and with a directive that, they will be operating within the stated objectives of the Rescue Mission and each participant was paid ten thousand naira monthly as an upkeep allowance to facilitate their movement daily.
Rebo Usman maintained that the project was capital intensive, but however said, some beneficiaries have been grouped, and they will take off as partners in business, particularly, in the fields of welding, wood carving and computer, adding, that, those that require constant use of electricity, generators have been procured for them so that they will take off without any form of hindrance.
Earlier, the Commissioner of Cooperative and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Abba Akawu disclosed that the 335 persons selected from the 168 wards of the State had been trained for the period of three months and they were closely monitored and supervised by his Ministry, the Ministry of Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation.
Abba Akawu maintained that, through the Rescue Mission today, the 335 graduands will be able to stand on their own and as well create job and wealth for the State and challenged them to be good ambassadors of the Rescue Mission of Governor Darius Ishaku.
He further disclosed that the memorandum of understanding MoU was also signed with Bank of Industry all to better the lives of Tarabans and make them productive members of the society, adding that, about one hundred and thirty-five people will benefit from the MoU in the State.
The high point of the event was the presentation of working tools to the graduands by Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku assisted by the State Deputy Governor, the Kpanti Zing, Chief of Mutum – Biyu and the Galadima Muri.
It was earlier preceded with an inspection of facilities which were either constructed, fabricated or produced by the graduands.
The ten skills acquired by the graduands included Hair dressing, tailoring, shoe making, carpentry, wood carving, computer training, soap making, net-weaving, welding and traditional dress weaving of Adire and Lantang.
