In the bid to prevent youth unrest, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, through the Ojaja II National Image Sustainable Agricultural Empowerment Training Scheme, is set to train over 6,000 youths in the South-West states.
The Ooni in a statement said: “My passion for the Yoruba youth, the future and sustainable asset of the South-West states, is strong and I am determined and ready to work with you. I am most impressed with your comprehensive understanding of the scope of the empowerment project and exertion to train six million less-privileged youths in basic agriculture skills, liaise with government, private organisations, and solicit their involvement as potential out-growers and satellite agribusinesses.”
The General Coordinator of the programme, Mr. Seyi Bamigbade, said the agricultural training was in line with the Federal Government’s agenda for employment creation, economic empowerment and self-sufficiency.
According to him, the training, which is scheduled to commence first in Osun State before its take-off in the other South-West states, is tagged, ‘Agriculture Development: Panacea for Economic Growth and Employment Generation’.
He said participants would be trained in cassava flour production, rice production, wheat processing, fish farming, mechanised garri production, among others.