Federal Government - In its determination to reduce youth unemployment in the country, the Federal Government has unveiled plans to empower 740,000 market-oriented young agricultural producers in rural areas under the Youth Employment in Agriculture Programme, YEAP.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Dr. Shehu Ahmed, gave this hint in his keynote address at a one-day Stakeholders Workshop on the YEAP in Abuja. Ahmed, who was represented by the Director, Animal Production and Husbandry Services, Dr. (Mrs.) Egejuru Eze, was quoted in a statement issued by the Ministry’s Director of Information, Tony Ohaeri, as saying that the programme, which was aimed to cover the 36 states of the federation and FCT had commenced with six pilot states. According to the Permanent Secretary, the states which were selected from the six geopolitical zones include Bauchi, Imo, Katsina, Lagos, Niger, and Rivers states.
He explained that the beneficiaries of the project would comprise 20,000 school leavers and rural youth leaders from each state of the federation. Ahmed pointed out further that YEAP would develop additional 18,500 University graduates who would be formed into young agribusiness entrepreneurs called ‘’Nagropreneurs’’that would develop business along the entire agricultural value chain ranging from the farm, storage, processing, value addition, marketing services and logistics. He said that the beneficiaries of the YEAP programme would enjoy supports from the Federal and State Governments in areas of access to land, technical, entrepreneurial, financial business and marketing skills as well as links to major agribusinesses that would provide market and mentorship.
He commended the efforts of the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, FAO, for providing assistance to the ministry in strengthening the capacities of implementers of YEAP in the six pilot states while also soliciting expansion of the programme to cover more states of the federation. In her goodwill message, the FAO Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Louise Setshwaelo, described the youths as one of the greatest assets Nigeria could take advantage of to eradicate poverty in the country. Setshwaelo disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, FMARD, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, FAO, joined forces in 2012 to design and implement the National Youth Employment in Agriculture Programme, YEAP, in order to provide necessary skills and opportunities for both young women and men to have equal access to decent jobs. She reiterated the commitment of the FAO to continue collaborating with the Federal and State Governments in the implementation of the YEAP programme for empowerment of the Nigerian youths.
At the workshop, equipment which included projectors, computers and some other accessories was presented to some vocational training centres for youths in Bauchi,Imo, Katsina, among others states. Earlier in his address, the Director of Extension Services in the ministry, Mr. Rufus Onwuemeka explained that the workshop was aimed at creating a forum where key stakeholders under the FAO assisted programme could meet and brainstorm on how to properly implement the YEAP in various states.
Source: National Mirror