Beneficiaries of Hydro Power Producing Areas Development Commission, HYPPADEC, Youth Transformation Programme have been charged to build a sustainable future with the training received.

Governor Yahaya Bello gave the charge in a message to the flag-off ceremony of the programme in Lokoja.

Represented by the Deputy Governor, Chief Edward Onoja, the Governor said said the charge became imperative in view of the benefits inherent in the training by the Commission.

According to him, the State Government is poised to give all the needed support to the training programme for the youths to be self reliance.

He said the youths should equally prioritize the knowledge acquired and use the starter packs to engage themselves meaningfully.

Earlier in his welcome address, the State Cordinator of HYPPADEC, Lee Atibee Ahenjir said the launch of the Youth Transformation Programme, YTP, was aimed at empowering five hundred youths in various skills for self reliance.

He said the programme is also targeted at empowering youths from ecological prone areas in Kogi State as well as create employment for them in the next ten years.

In a remark, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of HYPPADEC, Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa said the training would enable the youths to have access to loan or grants from financial institutions.

He said other programmes by the Commission are also targeted at farmers and assist local security agencies with mobility amongst other things.

Also in her remark, the Cordinator of the Technical Partner of HYPPADEC; “New Approach” Doctor Lilian Iwu said the body is supporting the Commission to achieve set goals.

According to her, the New Approach is introducing mosquitoes repellant bands, snake repellant building a rescue village equipped with solar power panels and mobile vehicle van for waste disposals among other things to support the Commission’s activities.

The member representing Kogi State in the Governing Council of HYPPADEC , Alhaji Isa Ozi Salami the success of the Commission is attributed to it’s transparency, objectivity and sincerity of purpose in the execution of it’s programmes and activities.

In his goodwill message, the Commissioner for Environment, Chief Victor Adewale Omofaiye said the flag off has kick start a synergy between the Ministry and the Commission to achieve a sustainable youth partnership in Kogi State.

Chief Omofaiye who said the execution of HYPPADEC programmes in the State would lead to poverty reduction, youth restiveness and social vices in the State commended the Commission for it’s partnership with Kogi State Government.

Other goodwill messages came from the Attah of Igala, His Royal Majesty, Matthew Alaji Opaluwa Ogwuche-Akpa who pledged the support of traditional rulers in the State to the Youth Transformation Programme as well as the support of the State House of Assembly given by the Speaker, Matthew Kolawole in a message to the occasion.

Highlights of the programme was the symbolic presentation of life jackets to the Attah of Igala by the Deputy Governor, Chief Edward Onoja.