Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has charged beneficiaries of the Women and Youth Empowerment Program (WYEP) to play a big role in revitalizing the economy of the state.
Bello gave the charge at graduation of the beneficiaries of the WYEP, under the auspice of the APPEALS project, at the ABU College of Agriculture, Kabba on Friday.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, who doubles as the Chairman, State Steering Committee of the APPEALS project, Chief Edward Onoja, he expressed delight at the fact that Kogi was the only state chosen from the North-Central to benefit from the APPEALS project. This he said, was an attestation to the giant strides made in the area of agriculture in the new direction government.
Bello, who opened his speech with a call for a minute silence to honor those who died in the recent fatal tanker explosion that claimed 23 lives in Felele, Lokoja on Wednesday, said that the initiative could not have come at a better time due to the looming food scarcity caused by the Coronavirus pandemic worldwide.
He said that the program, which is projected to provide over 17,000 direct and indirect jobs, will further strengthen President Muhammadu Buhari’s food sufficiency plan.
The State Coordinator of the APPEALS Project, Dr. Abdullahi Ozomata appreciated Governor Yahaya Bello and Chief Edward Onoja for their unwavering support which he said, was invaluable in recording success during the program.
He expressed pride in the manner in which the program was conducted, whilst assuring Kogites that only the best and deserving made it to graduation.
He commended all the facilitators and charged all beneficiaries to repay the trust invested in them by being the element for change.
