Henry C. Anagboso :
The Federal Government of Nigeria in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development FGN/IFAD through the Anambra State Value Chain Development Programme VCDP has recently trained 12 youth on fabricating skill.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Forster Ihejiofor during his visit to the training ground for the in Awka, applauded the initiative.
He commended the VCDP IFAD Programme on its giant stride in always coming up with innovative interventions to addressing agricultural challenges, adding that the initiative is much in line with the “1Youth 2Skills” initiative of the Chukwuma Soludo administration.
Dr. Ihejiofor who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Uzoka, said noted that VCDP is doing exceedingly well in the agricultural sector.
He enjoined the trainees to make the best out of the opportunity given to them to become somebody in their various communities and assist the government in making life better for the rural farmers, become employers of labour and join in nation building.
The Acting State Programme Coordinator, Anambra VCDP Coordinating office, Dr. Deborah I. Onyefulu disclosed that the initiative came as a result of the challenging economic situation in the country and the high rate of agro processing equipment, which was becoming too alarming mainly for the rural dwellers.
According to her, the programme identified a crucial need to create employment opportunities for women and youth. To address this, the programme opted to partner with local fabricators across participating states to train young individuals in the repair and replacement of damaged parts of agro-processing equipment, focusing on rice and cassava.
“Additionally, the programme will provide start-up packs to support these trained youths, empowering them to become self-sufficient entrepreneurs in the agro-processing sector.”
Dr. Onyefulu also said that with the local fabricated equipment, medium scale processors will have less difficulty facing the challenging cost of purchasing these equipment.
One of the trainees, Mr. Ndubusi Brown from Amanuke in Awka North LGA and his counterpart Mercy Nwaforji from Ufuma in Orumba North council area who expressed their gratitude to the FGN/IFAD-VCDP and the Anambra State Government for giving them such great opportunity to becoming somebody in life, said it was like a dream to them as they never imagine such opportunity will come to them and promised to make judicious use of it and even train other youths in their communities.
* Anagboso is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State *
