By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.
Member representing Kogi on the Governing Board of Hydro-Electricity Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) Alhaji Isa Ozi-Salami, has commissioned the operational office of the Commission in the state with emphasis on conducive working environment.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on Monday in Lokoja, the elder statesman said provision of conducive atmosphere and befitting office accommodation was a great impetus for enhanced staff productivity.
“What we are doing now is more or less facilitating capacity building and enhancement of communication between the commission and the staff because provision of conducive office accommodation is staff capacity building”, he said.
He said that the office complex strategically located in the business area of the town was donated to the commission by Kogi Government to assist in execution of its intervention activities in the 10 flood-prone Local Government Areas of the state.
“What HYPPADEC is doing across the member states and Local Governments across the country is serving humanity as many lives particularly the poor masses are being touched and uplifted.
He described the Managing Director of HYPPADEC, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa, as a genius in service to humanity and noted that the bottom-top approach adopted by the commission was the magic wand.
Governor Yahaya Bello, represented by Victor Adewale Omofaiye, the state Commissioner for environment said HYPPADEC had become a household name in Kogi in view of the quantum of assistance it has rendered to the people of the state.
They have been able to positively effect all the 10 affected Local Government Areas through youth empowerment, education, Health, electricity among many others with their signatures everywhere.
He commended HYPPADEC for its effort at channelization of water as part of measures to avert flooding or mitigate its impact on the people.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of HYPPADEC, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa
commended Governor Yahaya Bello and his administration for providing the edifice as operational office for the commission.
The HYPPADEC boss said that the commission hoped to use the edifice for five years after which it would build and move into its own permanent office adding, “As we appreciate the Government for this gesture.
“As Oliver Twist, we are asking for a piece of land on which we can build our permanent office in the state.
“In the area of health, we intend to carry out another round of medical outreaches programmes for the benefiting 10 flood affected LGAs in the state immediately after the Ramadan Fasting
“We have gotten approval from the governing board to provide electricity to over 200 communities in conjunction with the state government, ” he said
Yelwa said that the Commission would do more for the youths in the area of empowerment, scholarship and capacity building as our future leaders that deserved to be assisted to fulfill destiny.
Speaking earlier, Kogi State Coordinator of HYPPADEC, Engr Joan Ogwuche said the physical appearance of an individual or an office must be compelling and appealing enough to secure the confidence of the customer’s ° patronage .
“Given this maxim, | sincerely want to commend and thank the Governing Council and the management of the commission for deeming Kogi State fit and first of this befitting edifice.
Ogwuche also expressed profound gratitude to Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello “for accommodating us, providing hospitable environment as well as his unrepentant extension of hands fellowship to the commission at all times”, she added.
Highlight of the occasion was the display of placard carrying youths who came from the 10 benefiting LGAs, with praisesà the Commission, gave the MD an award for outstanding performance.