The Niger State Government has reinforced its commitment to empowering 100,000 youth in the state with agricultural and vocational skills.
Governor Umaru Bago underscored this mission at the recent Youth Transformation Programme (YTP) graduation, where over 5,000 graduates received start-up kits. The event, held at the Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre, Minna, marked a significant stride in youth development by the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC).
In his address, Governor Bago emphasized that nations with a focus on skill development experience accelerated growth, highlighting that several development partners have pledged to support Niger State in training youth. He lauded N-HYPPADEC’s initiative, calling it a model of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) that aids in empowering communities affected by flooding and lack of potable water.
Governor Bago urged the graduates to utilize their start-up kits effectively and avoid the temptations of drugs and crime, while calling on those trained in agriculture to partner with established farms, including state-backed enterprises and private farms.
N-HYPPADEC Managing Director, Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa, praised the event as a milestone for job creation, noting that over 5,000 youths across six states had benefited from the program. He announced plans for a second edition, which will expand to include an entrepreneurship unit and advanced skill acquisition for graduates.
