Renewable energy has been identified as one of the 21st century skills and major driver to get more youths engaged.
This was the position of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello and Member of Parliament, United Kingdom (UK) Helen Grant while interacting at Portcullis House, London on policies that will bring about youth engagements, women empowerment and improved girl child education.
Governor Sani Bello also observed that renewable energy was capable of improving energy and addressing electricity inequality not only in the state but the country at large as it can be deployed in both rural and urban areas.
He said his administration is committed to initiating programmes, policies and projects that have direct bearing on youths in the state hence, he intend to establish a Renewable Energy Agency and Institute to engage and train youths including the girl child across the state.
The Governor explained that the Institute will serve as a training hub as well as vocational Centre added that a robust regulatory and institutional framework as well as action plan for the implementation will be worked out soon.
He further disclosed that the programme will commence and focus on creating understanding of solar energy technology, installation, repair and maintenance of solar energy systems pointing out that renewable energy sources will be included in the long term.
Governor Sani Bello assured that the initiative which is expected to bring on board about two thousand five hundred youths, will also be implemented on an equal opportunity basis for all the youths in the twenty five local government areas of the state.
He acknowledged the need for government to deploy resources to build capacity by developing a sustainable regulatory framework for the success of the initiative.
The Governor expressed optimism that the programme when successfully implemented, would spur entrepreneurship among the youths, make them self reliant, improve the economy of the state and serve as a model for other states of the Federation among others.
The meeting also afforded Governor the opportunity to discuss on how the UK government can support in sponsoring Judicial Training for TIER 4 courts (Magistrates) and continuity of the programme in the state.
In her response, Member of Parliament, Helen Grant who lauded the initiative, promised to provide all the needed support to achieve desired results as it concerned women and girl child.
She also made some suggestions on how best to make the initiative have a sustainable financing and noted that more meetings are to be scheduled on the workability of the programme.
