The Ebonyi State Government has successfully trained 200 youths in Agribusiness, marking a significant step towards improving food security and fostering youth development in the region. This initiative is part of the 2024 Innovative and Integrated Agricultural Value Chains Agribusiness training program, which aims to equip participants with essential skills in various agricultural sectors, including poultry, fishery, and rice production.
Among the graduates are 171 ward councilors and 29 additional participants, all of whom were encouraged by Governor Francis Nwifuru to embrace large-scale farming as a viable means of supporting their livelihoods. In a statement relayed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Monday Uzor, Nwifuru highlighted the importance of diversifying income sources, urging the participants to leverage their training for personal and community growth.
“You should put aside the toga of a Councillor and engage in farming to complement your salaries and allowances. That you are a university graduate, for instance, is not a guarantee that you will not engage in farming. Therefore you should use this opportunity to move from growth and progress to achieve success,” the governor emphasized during the graduation ceremony.
Governor Nwifuru expressed confidence that the training has equipped the participants with operational skills necessary for establishing their own agribusinesses. He assured them that the state government would provide the necessary support to implement their newfound knowledge, with a commitment to monitor their progress effectively.
This initiative reflects the government’s dedication to addressing food security challenges while simultaneously empowering the youth. By investing in agribusiness training, Ebonyi State aims to cultivate a generation of skilled farmers who can contribute to sustainable agricultural practices and economic development in the region.
