The Managing Director of the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC), Abubakar Yelwa, disclosed on Tuesday that they have successfully trained 705 youths across ten vital vocational areas in Kogi State.
He made this known at the distribution of starter packs to graduates of the N-HYPPADEC Youth Transformation Programme (YTP), held in Lokoja.
According to him, the distribution includes 187 graduates in computer appreciation and another 187 in fashion design and tailoring.
His words: “We have equipped 94 youth with skills in poultry farming and 85 in catering and culinary services.” The program has also produced 61 trained fish farmers and 44 specialists in bag and shoe making.
“Additionally, 18 graduates have mastered hairdressing, while 12 are now experts in bead making. We have 11 graduates in cosmetology and 6 in printing and graphic design.
“These numbers represent more than statistics—they represent dreams, ambitions, and the potential for economic independence. Each graduate here today has received comprehensive training in their chosen field, along with monthly stipends throughout the duration of their training.
“The starter packs we are about to start distributing today will enable them to transform their acquired skills into sustainable businesses.
“The YTP reflects our response to the unique challenges facing communities in the power-producing areas.”
He noted that years of flooding from hydroelectric dam operations have disrupted economic activities and displaced many communities, adding that these circumstances have left youth vulnerable to poverty and social vices.
According to him, through the YTP, they are creating pathways to economic independence and social stability, stressing that President Tinubu’s administration has demonstrated strong support for their mission, as evidenced by the President’s signing of the 2023 Electricity Act into law.
“This legislation has expanded our mandate and reach, enabling us to touch more lives and create more opportunities for Nigerian youth. We view this support as both an endorsement and a challenge to achieve even greater results. Looking ahead, we are planning significant expansions to the YTP.
“We will establish an Entrepreneurship and Empowerment Unit within the Commission to coordinate our job creation initiatives more effectively. We also plan to introduce Advanced Skills Acquisition Training in collaboration with the Kogi State Government, targeting unemployed degree holders with specialised technical skills like computer programming, solar power installation, and development.
“To our graduates, I would like to state that the starter packs you will receive today represent not just tools but the key to your economic independence. Use them wisely. Your success will inspire others and contribute to the economic revival of your communities and our nation,” he said.
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