Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq-Yelwa, the pioneer Managing Director, Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPADEC) on Friday pledged to fulfill promises made to host communities 48 years ago.
The new MD disclosed this in an interview with Journalists shortly after a valedictory reception organised in his honour at Government House, Birnin Kebbi.
Newsmen report that until his recent appointment, Sadiq-Yelwa was the Commissioner, Kebbi State Ministry of Land and Housing.
Sadiq-Yelwa said: “My vision and mission is to see that those promises made to our people 48 years ago now become a reality.
“Most of the communities have lost their houses, most of them have lost their business places, most of them have lost their roads while most of them have lost their business entrepreneurship.
“These host communities lost all these as a result of construction of Kainji dam and this is why the commission is established, to see that these issues are addressed.”
He also assured that the commission would prioritise entrepreneurship development so as to shift the mind of youths from white collar jobs.
According to him, women can be married and still be running businesses in their respective houses depending on themselves and helping their families and children as well.
He lauded Gov. Atiku Bagudu for giving him the opportunity to serve under his administration.
Sadiq-Yelwa said he would always look up to the governor as somebody who laid the foundation of what he had become today.
“Your Excellency, you decided to appoint me as your commissioner without seeking advice from anybody because of the confidence you have on me and you gave me all the opportunity to perform.
“All that we achieved in the ministry of lands was as a result of your belief and the determination you have in seeing Kebbi State becomes a place every one of us will be proud of,” he said.
Earlier, Bagudu said the appointment of Saddiq-Yelwa as the pioneer Managing Director, explained the passion President Muhammadu Buhari had for Kebbi state.
Bagudu said: “We are thankful to President Muhammadu Buhari for finding you worthy to be the pioneer Managing Director of this important commission, we have no doubt that you are mindful of the expectations and the tremendous confidence vested on you by the president.
“We pray you will settle down quickly and prove to Nigeria the value of that commission and in particular the states and communities covered by the activities of the commission.
“We believe President Muhammadu Buhari wouldn’t have chosen a better person like you and we are proud one of our best is yet again being called upon to serve. May God bless the president and give you the capacity to deliver.”
According to the governor, the President has really done honour to Kebbi State, describing the new MD as one of several appointees from the state.
He listed some executive appointments from Kebbi State to include Dr Nasiru Argungu, recently relieved DG, National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and Hussaini Kangiwa, Chairman, Disabled Commission.
Bagudu added were Nura Kangiwa, Director-General, National Institute for Hospitality & Tourism, Hassan Bello, Chief Executive of Nigerian Shippers Council and Muhammad Bello Koko, Executive Director of NPA, as well as federal commissioners and permanent secretaries among others.