The Lagos State Government is collaborating with International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the Africa Projects Development Centre (APDC) to train Thirteen thousand, five hundred and fourty eight (13,548) youths in the various agricultural value chains within the next five years.
This was disclosed by the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya on Monday 1st February 2021 at the opening of the Young Africa Works Agribusiness Internship Orientation Training held at the Lagos State Agricultural Development Authority, Oko-Oba, Agege.
The Commissioner noted that the training programed is to build skills and secure fulfilling work opportunities within the agriculture value chains, adding that the IITA would provide skills to over 40,000 youths and enable 242,724 young women and men across Nigeria to secure dignified and fulfilling work in the agricultural value chains within the five-year model, revealing that, in Lagos, a total of 13,548 youths including 3,120 secondary school students would participate in the Programme.
“I have been reliably informed that IITA seeks to provide skills to over 40,000 youths and enable 242,724 young women and men to secure dignified and fulfilling work in agricultural value chains in a five-stage model within a period of five years. Specifically, for Lagos State, a total of 13,548 youths including 3,120 secondary school students are expected to participate in this Programme,” the Commissioner said.
Olusanya disclosed that the State Government’s interest in the partnership is based on its goal of recruiting more youth, teenagers and women into the agricultural space to replace the ageing farmers as well as to increase food production, create employment opportunities, alleviate poverty and boost income generation in the State.
She stated that programmes, such as the Lagos Agripreneurship Programme (L.A.P), the Lagos Food Production Centre, the Schools’ Agricultural Programme (S.A.P), the Summer School Programme, the World-Bank assisted FADAMA and APPEALS Projects have been carrying out a series of training, especially for the youth and women, to ensure increased food security in the State and reduce her level of dependence on other States for food.
“This training capacity building programme is a step in the right direction and it is in line with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda where agriculture constitutes a major part of making Lagos a 21st Century Economy.” Olusanya said
“What we see is that we have a huge population of youthful people most of whom are not gainfully employed and with the skillset deficiency required, especially in a space like agriculture. With this initiative to train over 40,000 people in Lagos, Kano and Kaduna, specifically 13,548 in Lagos, we believe that we should be able to close the gap around the deficits we have in our food supply system.
“The Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture is, therefore, delighted to be a part of this laudable programme as it is very much in line with our aims and objectives. I wish to congratulate and commend the organisers of today’s programme on the implementation of this initiative in Lagos State and urge
you not to relent in your efforts. You can rest assured of the support of the Lagos State Government at all times,” she added.
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