Kogi State government has disclosed that it had trained over 4, 000 women and youths on cassava products processing to meet international standards.
The Special Adviser to the state governor on Women and Youth development, Dr (Mrs) Temitope Sinkaiye who made this known while speaking in a chat journalists in Lokoja at weekend, stated that 1, 500 of the trainees had successfully keyed into the government cassava value chain development programme.
Shinkaye explained that government on its part had released N375 million to them as start up capital with each of them receiving N250’000. Sinkaiye who spoke at a one-day mini exhibition of the products of the beneficiaries said that the beneficiaries were selected from the agro- entrepreneurial component of the Women and Youth Advancement and Development Programme ( YAD4KOGI) initiated by the government in 2012.
She pointed out that the training carried out in conjunction with a private firm, FLO-MULVINA Nig. Ltd. had moved the state to becoming a major exporter of cassava products, especially gari.
She noted that the efforts of the government had also recently received a major boost from the Nigeria Standards Organisation ( SON) which recently conferred a certificate of quality on garri products being produced by the trainees said that government had concluded arrangements to introduce some of the trainees to the Small and Medium Scale Enterprise Development Agency ( SMEDAN) and the Bank of Industry for more financial assistance to scale up their businesses.
The Special Adviser said that her department was encouraged to stage the mini exhibition by the success recorded by the women and youths at the Arise and Shine Africa Trade Exhibition organized by the SON and the just concluded Abuja International Trade Fair.
The state governor, Capt Idris Wada expressed his delight that the programme had achieved its set objectives of being a platform to reduce unemployment and create jobs for women and youth.
He promised to empower more women and youths in the state but asked the private sector and well meaning individuals in the state to complement the efforts of the government.
Wada who was represented by his deputy, Yomi Awoniyi congratulated the exhibitors and commended them for not disappointing him, urging them to join government in creating jobs.
The wife of the governor, Hajia Halima Wada who was the special guest of honor said that the programme had helped in consolidating the state’s position as the number one producer of cassava in the country.
She urged the exhibitors to show more courage and perseverance so that they can continue to excel in all their areas of endeavour.
