By Aliyu Usman-,Birnin Kebbi
The hydro power producing area development commission (HYPADEC) has said that it has concluded plans to graduate no fewer than one thousand and eleven trainees who were extensively trained vocational skills in the state.
Recalled that the trainees, who were selected across the Local Government Areas of the state, were trained on bags and shoes making, Catering and Culinary services,computer appreciation, plumbing and Borehole, electrical installation and maintenance among others for a year, or six months depending on their specialisation.
While speaking at the stakeholders meeting on N-HYPPADEC Youth Transformation Programme (YTP, ) in Birnin Kebbi, Legal Director of the Agency,Alhaji Jemilu Tsoho Jega explained that the agency will spend over N400 million to purchase start- up-kits for their training to enable them to be self reliant.
Jega, who listed the areas which the trainees received their apprenticeship,said, they were trained on the vocations,with duration ranging from one year, six months and three months respectively.
“We have 13 people that were trained in bags and shoes making, 87 in catering and culinary services, 162 in Computer appreciation ,plumbing and Borehole are 6, electrical installation and maintenance are 12 in numbers”.
He disclosed that the above and others cumulated to a total number of 1,011 trainees who were trained with the total sum of N411,394,316 as start up kits for empowerment.
Jega explained that the same programme was also done in all the six states under the HYPPADEC areas, stressing that the agency is working hard to ensure that their businesses are fully registered with CAC while their certificates would be given to them immediately after their graduation.
He insisted that the agency would not allow any graduate to sell his or her kits after the graduation, rather, they should use it to become employers of labour.
In his remark, the Deputy Director,Community and Rural Development Directorate,Technical unit of the agency,Dr. Yazid Abubakar explained that some of the trainees have started their apprenticeships since 2021 across the six states under the agency jurisdiction.
He emphasized that 95 percentage of the start-up- kits have been procured by the agency and they would not be allowed to be sold after the graduation.
Earlier, the State Coordinator of the agency, Mallam Mustapha Bello Gwandu,commended the stakeholders for their support and commitment to the YTP programme.
According to him, “Your contributions,whether through funding,expertise,or advocacy, are integral to the programme’s achievements and it’s impact on our N-HYPPADEC community in Kebbi State.
“The Youth Transformation Programme (YTP) stands as a testament to our collective dedication to continuous learning and development in skills acquisition. It serves not only to enhance the skills and capacities of our teeming youth both male and female, but also to foster innovation and adaptability in a rapidly evolving landscape “.
The Emir of Gwandu’,Alhaji Muhammad Illiyasu Bashar represented by the Waziri Gwandu’,Alhaji Umar Waziri advised the trainees to have proper bank account with commercial banks stressed that,anytime they have problem,the agency would be available to rescue them in their business.
The Vice -Chairman of National Youth Council , in his remark,kicked against the selling of the start –up-kits and urged the agency to put measure on ground to check mate the graduates and the equipment procured for them after their graduation.
