The ‘Youth on The Ridges Programme’ of the Akeredolu Led Administration in Ondo state has got underway with 1000 youths selected across the 18 council areas.
The 1000 youths are part of a total number of 18 thousand, the government intends to engage across 18 council areas under the programme.
Speaking at the Flag of ceremony in Akure, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu said under the programme, youths are expected to be trained on poultry, snail rearing, piggery, fishery, cassava processing, designed to increase food security and yield much income to the state in the final analysis.
He said the initiative will go a long way to reduce to the barest minimum high rate of unemployment and boost food security in the state.
Akeredolu expressed regret over the rate of unemployment and too much reliance on white collar jobs is becoming unbearable hence the need for such programme to make youths self dependent.
The governor who promised to provide funds for the sustainability of the programme, said it will soon be replicated in schools across the state.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Gboyega Adefarati commended the governor for coming up with the initiative and noted that with the engagement of these youths, the agricultural sector will birth a revolution in the nation.
Speaking to the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Agriculture and Agribusiness, Pastor Akin Olotu enjoined the beneficiaries to make maximum use of the opportunity to better the society.
Olotu said the Ondo State Agri-Business Empowerment Center, OSAEC was setup to drive agric business and raise young agropreneurs that will re-write the story of farming and farmers in the state and by extension the nation.
