Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Ilorin, Kwara state on Monday, commenced agricultural capacity building and training scheme for 20 youth, titled, “Agripreneurship Development for Youth”.

Speaking during the opening of the four-week programme, the executive director of the institute, Dr. Olufemi Oladunni, said that the scheme is targeted at empowering Nigerian youths along agricultural commodity value chains.

“The scheme is aimed at creating employment, wealth and eradicate poverty for sustainable livelihood and as well increase GDP of this country”, he said.

Dr. Oladunni, who said that the four-week programme is designed to equip the participants with knowledge and skills required to successfully manage agricultural enterprises, which he said include crop production, livestock rearing, and aquaculture; added that the training incorporates processing and marketing in micro and small scales in order to generate income and enhance livelihood.

The ARMTI executive director, who said that the participants were drawn from the six geopolitical zones of the country, added that the beneficiaries would be equipped with starter packs in materials and inputs needed to start their project as well as funds.

“The training scheme is in both theory and practical. They would also be attached to existing firmsfirms to pick practical experience. At the end of the day, they're going to be empowered, not 100 per cent financially but we'll buy necessary tools for them to start off.

“If it's poultry, they'll get day old chicks, point of lay, broiler, medication, etc and if it's fishery, it would be in fingerlings, necessary equipment, feeds, medication, etc. In the next six months, apart from engaging themselves productively, they should be able to engage one or two hands. And that's employment provision.

“We have had several trained youth who have benefitfed from the training in the past and they're today employers of labour, who would not want to have anything to do with salary job”.

Dr. Oladunni said that Nigeria is experiencing economic stress, adding that the situation had led to increased unemployment rate and restiveness among the youths.

“Arresting this ugly situation, ARMTI realises that building the capacity of the youth will help much in engaging the vibrant youths, thereby promoting sustainable development in the society, environment and economy.

“This is being achieved broadly over the years via Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES) themed “Agripreneurship Development for Youth”.

“Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES) is an Agripreneurship programme of FGN implemented by ARMTI. This programme is targeted at empowering Nigerian youths along agricultural commodity value chains.

“The programme features activities including:

1. Management training ; knowledge and skills acquisition
2. Field Practicum for hands on practical/demonstration
3. Field Attachment in a commercial farm
4. Empowerment Package involving start-up packages in enterprise of choice in either Poultry (Broiler) or Fish production.
5. Monitoring and Evaluation to ensure the beneficiaries are doing well and growing.

“On the approval of the President of Federal Government of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Executive Director of ARMTI, Dr. Olufemi A. Oladunni has directed for the implementation of the programme for the year 2023 to the glory of God and liberation of youths”.