The Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) yesterday kicked off the HYPPADEC Youth Transformation Programme (YTP) in Kogi State.
The programme which was declared open by the Managing Director of the commission, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq, was geared toward improving the living standard of youths across the six HYPPADEC states in Nigeria.
The Managing Director, who was represented by the Director of Administration and Finance –HYPPADEC Mr. Gabi Haruna, noted that the HYPPADEC Youth Transformation Programme (YTP) is a project designed by the Commission in collaboration with other critical stakeholders.
He identified stakeholders such as the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), New Approach, Minna Institute of Technology and Innovation (MITI), adding that they were geared to take over 5,000 youths off the streets via life changing SKill Acquisition exercise.
He said the effort was aimed at giving the targeted youths opportunities to contribute meaningfully to the development of their communities and to contain the rising insecurity and other criminal activities in our society.
In a statement according to the State HYPPADEC Coordinator, Engr. Mrs. Joan Oguche “Youth Transformation Programme is part of the overall effort of HYPPADEC to provide developmental project and empowerment initiatives to the riverine communities across the six HYPPADEC member states” she said.
She said, “The aim of the Youth Transformation Programme is to empower and equip our teeming jobless youths with various trades in order to reduce poverty, redundancy and unemployment which will in turn encourage, self reliance and economic productivity in the six HYPPADEC States”.
Engr. Oguche stressed that with this magnitude of impact by the commission, the kogi HYPPADEC team would ensure strict supervision of the project for its actualization.
She further disclosed that the curriculum covered ten different trades which include:Tailoring/fashion and designing, fish farming, poultry farming, baking and confectionary, shoe and bag making, computer Appreciation, Cosmetology, Barbing and hair dressing saloon and Event management/decoration.
Engr. Joan appealed to master trainers and the trainees to be committed to the exercise so that the effort of the Federal Government would not be frustrated.
Among the dignitaries present at the occasion are the Commissioners for youths and sports, Idris Musa, Environment, Victor Omofaiye, Director of Administration and Finance, HYPPADEC Mal. Gabi Haruna, Director of Community and Rural Development HYPPADEC, represented by Mal. Zakari Muhammed.
Other participants are: Assistant Director, Audit, HYPPADEC,Hajiya Salamatu and the Kogi State Coordinator of National Directorate of Employment(NDE), Mal. Zakari Abubakar.
