In its quest to tackle high rate of joblessness among youths, the Federal Government has kicked off 2018 development training for unemployed graduates and practicing farmers at the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, FECA. The one-week training programme sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development attracted youth and women participants from Akure North and South Federal constituency. Addressing the participants, the Provost of the College, Dr. Samson Adeola Odedina said, the training was geared toward empowering the participants in various agricultural businesses.
Odedina who noted that agriculture is not only hoe and cutlass,said there are so many exciting opportunities where the youths and unemployed graduates can explore. According to the him, “They abound in production, bulk purchase, marketing and others; it is only when youths are exposed to these through trainings that they can maximize the opportunity “. While expressing satisfaction with the present recognition and importance given to training, as a prerequisite for success in the business of agriculture ,Odedina thanked the Federal Government for making agriculture attractive to the youths, so as to utilise the value added chain opportunities.
His words :”We are satisfied that the stakeholders and government agencies involved in using Agriculture as a sustainable means of providing employment, raw materials for industries and for diversification of the economy, have registered and recognized the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, as credible training destination in the continent. “When people are poorly trained or not trained at all, they tend to blackmail Agriculture opportunities as not being profitable. We are confident, with the success stories, of the profitability of the training areas. An appreciable number of our past trainees are now Agro -millionaires and also role models in the industry.
“This is the third consecutive week that the College will be hosting different training events sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, with voluntary registration now above 1000 entries. ” I urged stakeholders not to ignore the College in whatever their plan is for youth empowerment through agriculture, sourcing of raw materials , job creation and general understanding of how agriculture works as a ‘business’.”
Speaking at the opening of the training, the Ondo State Deputy Governor, Hon. Agboola Ajayi, stressed the need for the youths to embrace agriculture as means of livelihood, noting that, that is the only way to go in the country. Agboola said, ” This training programme is better than distributing Okada for the people. The white collar jobs are no longer there . The best thing to do now is to go back to Agriculture. We will train you and give you money and equally help you to look for off takers”.
Read More at: Leadership
No comments:
Post a Comment