6th November, 2017
Alhaji Lawal Ida, the National Coordinator, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), says 390 youths will be trained in the N-Agripreneurs business plan initiative.
He said this in Sokoto on Monday at the opening of six-day training of 126 youths from Sokoto and Kebbi States under the N-Agripreneurs on Business plan.
Ida, who was represented by Mr Achem Bello, IFAD’s Agribusiness Specialist Officer, said that the pilot programme had commenced in seven states in the northern part of the country.
“The programme is aimed at addressing food security and unemployment challenges facing young men and women in Jigawa, Borno, Yobe, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi States.
“As such, 390 participants, who were drawn from the states, would be trained and supported under the IFAD Climate Change Adaptation and Agribusiness Support Programme (CASP) in the country.
“Moreover, 126 young men and women were selected from this axis to participate in the training, with 72 from Sokoto State and 54 from Kebbi State.
“Each state will be supported with counterpart funds to enhance agricultural production in the country,’’ he said.
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Ida said that at the end of the programme, each participant would have a better idea of agribusiness engagement and support to enhance their future businesses.
He commended Sokoto State for hosting the training programme and called on the participants to make good use of the opportunity to improve their lives.
In his remark, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Umaru Nagwari, commended IFAD and President Muhammadu Buhari for supporting the country’s farmers.
Nagwari said that the feats recorded in the agricultural sector under the Buhari-administration were due to its support for agricultural activities.
He also said that the state government, under Gov. Aminu Tambuwal, would continue to support agriculture so as to make it major revenue earner for the state.
Earlier, Alhaji Aminu Dogon-Daji and Mr Joel Aiki, the N-Agriprenuers programme officers for Sokoto and Kebbi states, congratulated the participants for their selection to partake in the programme.