Kogi State Government has restated it’s continued partnership with the Hydro Power Producing Areas Development Commission, HYPADEC, towards the reduction of unemployment among the nation’s teeming youths.

The State Commissioner for Environment, Chief Victor Adewale Omofaiye stated this at the opening ceremony of the ” Training of Master Trainers/Craftsmen for Youth Transformation Program, YTP, in Lokoja.

Chief Omofaiye said the State Government has provided the needed platform and data for the Commission to achieve set goals .

According to him, if the youths are meaningfully engaged, it will reduce the crime rate in the country.

Governor Yahaya Bello ‘s administration he stressed has been engaging organisations in mutual partnership to reduce the rate of unemployment in the State thereby lowering the crime rate as well

The Commissioner commended HYPADEC for it’s doggedness at providing developmental projects and empowerment to riverine communities.

Earlier in her welcome address, Kogi State Coordinator of HYPADEC, Mrs Juan Oguche said the Youth Transformation Programme is part of the overall efforts of the Commission to provide developmental projects and empowerment to the riverine communities across the HYPADEC member States.

Mrs Oguche disclosed that Six thousand youths are to benefit from the training in the Six member States, while 569 participants have been selected to participate in the exercise in Kogi State.

In his message to the occasion, the Managing Director of HYPADEC, Alhaji Abubakar Yauri represented by the Director Administration and Finance of the Commission, Mr Haruna Jimoh said the program is expected to empower youths among six members States of the organization.

In his good will message, the State Coordinator of the National Directorate of Employment, NDE, Alhaji Abubakar Zakari charged other organizations to join HYPADEC at reducing the rate of unemployment in the country.

Speaking on behalf of the Royal Fathers from the benefitting communities, the Ejeh of Ibaji, Chief John Egwueni expressed appreciation to the Commission and the State Government for thier partnership to achieve set goals.

The skill/trade expected to be acquired by the youths are; Tailoring and Fashion Designing, Fish Farming, Poultry Farming, Backery and Confectionery, Computer Appreciation among others.