Saraki to train, equip 700 youths in solar power technology

From Oluseyi Dasilva, Ilorin

The Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has offered to bankroll the training of 700 youths in Kwara State on solar power installation and maintenance.
The beneficiaries of this empowerment would be trained under ABS MACO Solar Training Programme as part of measures to make them self-reliant and reduce unemployment amongst the youths.
Saraki disclosed this while addressing the youths undergoing the training programme at his ABS Mandate Constituency Office in Ilorin.
Speaking through the Director-General, ABS Mandate Constituency Office, Alhaji Musa Abdullahi, the Senate president also disclosed that the beneficiaries would be provided with tools kit after the training.
He said his major priority as a leader was to build the capacity of youths across the state to ensure that they are positioned for future challenges.
Saraki expressed worry over the rate of unemployment prevalent among the youth in the society and assured that efforts would be geared towards creating job opportunities for them.
He recalled that his office had facilitated employment opportunities for many Kwarans in the bid to curb restiveness.
The Senate president, who emphasized the importance of youth in the society, urged the youth to be focused and shun all vices that could jeopardize their future.
Also speaking, the Director, Project and Empowerment at ABS constituency office, Mr Olayinka Ibrahim Otukoko, said the office had facilitated the installation of 4000 solar power in Kwara Central Senatorial District.
He stated that the training of the youth, which the office undertook, was to build the capacity of the youths in the area of renewable energy.
“The meeting we have just concluded here is a meeting between the beneficiaries of empowerment and youth capacity building programme that is centred around solar energy system as a renewable energy system that has high value in the market now.