Niger State Governor targets 100,000 youths for skills development

The Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Bago, has announced plans to train 100,000 youths across the state in various skills to enhance employment opportunities and boost the state’s productivity. These youths will be drawn from all 25 local government areas and will receive training in agriculture, computer science, vocational skills, and barbing, among other areas.

Governor Bago made the announcement during a ceremony in Minna, where over 5,000 youth graduates of the Youth Transformation Programme, organized by the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC), received starter kits. The programme aims to equip youths with skills that can help them contribute meaningfully to the state’s economic development.

Bago emphasized that nations that prioritize skills development tend to experience more significant productivity growth. He also highlighted that many development partners, including the UNDP and the Gates Foundation, are eager to collaborate with the state to provide further training and support for the youth.

Praising N-HYPPADEC for its initiative, the governor referred to it as an excellent example of corporate social responsibility. He also commended the graduates for their resilience and perseverance throughout the training process. He stressed that great individuals are shaped through hard work and determination, urging the youths to use their newly acquired skills to support themselves and their families.

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Bago further advised the beneficiaries to avoid selling the starter kits they had received and to use them wisely. He also warned them to stay away from drugs and criminal activities, urging them to strive to be the best they could be in life.

The governor encouraged those trained in agriculture to collaborate with established farms, including those supported by the state government, for better results in their ventures. He noted that the state government is ambitious about training 100,000 youths in various skills, with support from local and international partners.

Abubakar Yelwa, CEO of N-HYPPADEC, also spoke at the event, emphasizing that the Youth Transformation Programme is a key job creation initiative designed to combat youth unemployment in the six member states of the commission. Yelwa revealed that over 5,000 youths were trained across these states, with more than 1,500 from Niger alone. The trainees received monthly stipends and Corporate Affairs Commission registration certificates during their training.

N-HYPPADEC is already planning the second phase of the programme, which will expand to include an entrepreneurship unit to further support job creation and empowerment across the region.