The World Bank, in conjunction with the National FADAMA Coordination Office, has embarked on agro-enterprise development training for 200 women and unemployed graduates in Kabba, Kogi.
Mr Tayo Adewumi, The National Project Coordinator of FADAMA, said at the onset of the training in ABU College of Agriculture, Kabba, that the training was executed under the FADAMA Graduate Unemployed Youth and Women Support Programme (FADAMA GUYS)
He said that FADAMA GUYS was designed for the production of four core crops of cassava, rice, sorghum and tomato.
The coordinator, who was represented by Mr Peter Ajibaiye, said that at the end of the training, the beneficiaries would be given grants by the World Bank to start their chosen agricultural enterprises.
He said that the World Bank had released 200 billion dollars as grant to promote the production of the four core crops in the Nigeria.
Adewumi said that the FADAMA GUYS initiative was aimed at reducing unemployment and promoting food security in the country.
The Kogi Commissioner of Agriculture, Mr Kehinde Oloruntoba, who declared the training open, said that the Federal Government would reposition the youth to engage in productive ventures in its efforts to diversify the economy and use agriculture for wealth creation.
He advised the trainees to make judicious use of the grants that would be given to them at the end of the training.
He also said that the state had abundant resources which could facilitate of all aspects of agriculture production.
The State Project Coordinator, Mr Paul Ogunmola, said the participants were lucky to be trained at ABU College of Agriculture, Kabba, which was renowned for quality teachers and urged them to engage in agro-business after the training.
The Provost of the College, Dr (Mrs) Aderonke Mohammed, said that the training would empower the trainees to become employers of labour, adding that it would “continue to bear fruits and lead to further reduction of unemployment in Nigeria”.
Some of the trainees told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that they would invest in the production of rice, cassava, aquaculture, poultry and livestock, among others.
– NAN
