Niger State Governor Umaru Bago has said that nations that have grown, paid more attention to skills for their youth population.
The governor disclosed this at the distribution of start-up kits to the over 5,000 graduates of the Youth Transformation Programme of the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC) held at the Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre, Minna.
He noted that many development partners have expressed willingness to partner with the state in training the youth on different skills. This is targeted at 100,000 youth in the state who will be trained in agricultural and vocational skills.
Governor Bago thanked the N-HYPPADEC for collaborating with the state government in relocating communities threatened by flood and providing potable drinking water to many communities in the state.
The Managing Director of N-HYPPADEC Abubakar Yelwa who described the event as historic said the idea of training youth under the Youth Transformation programme of the commission is a job creation initiative conceived to address youth unemployment in all her member States.
He said over 5,000 youth were trained across six states with over 1,500 youth from Niger State, 505 in Benue, 1,011 in Kebbi, 705 in Kogi, 814 in Kwara, and 365 in Plateau State.
The N-HYPPADEC boss said that the training programme was between three and six months and that the skills they acquired have been registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission at the expense of the commission.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume represented by his Chief of Staff Simon Tyungu commended N-HYPPADEC, describing the programme as a laudable.
He said it would complement the efforts of President Bola Tinubu in engaging the youth in meaningful ventures that will keep them off social vices.
