The Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) has begun its Youth Transformation Programme where 10,000 youths in Kebbi, Niger, Kogi, Kwara, Plateau and Benue states would be trained before the end of this year.
The youth will receive vocational and technical training, fish farming, poultry, agricultural enterprise, hairdressing, barbing saloon, catering and culinary service, music and entertainment component, event management and decoration, fashion design and tailoring.
The Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Sunday Dare who commended the gesture by the Commission said HYPPADEC’s empowerment programme will complement the Federal Government’s investment in the youth.
“What HYPPADEC is doing is training 10,000 youths in one year and when combined with the 280,000 youths that the Ministry of Youth and Sports had trained in two-and-a-half years, you see a President committed to investing in the youth and empowering the youth from poverty into prosperity,” he said.
Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello said the programme came at a good time and would contribute to keeping the youth away from social vices as the 2023 general elections approach.
“This youths’ development programme is coming at a very good time to complement the efforts of our administration in engaging the youth in meaningful ventures that can take them off social vices, especially as we approach 2023 general elections where some unpatriotic politicians may try to explore their vulnerability by recruiting them as political thugs to disrupt the fragile peaceful atmosphere in the state,” he said.