Gov. Akeredolu of Ondo State

The Ondo State Government has pledged to support beneficiaries of the FADAMA Graduate Unemployed Youth Support programme (FADAMA GUYS).

Funmilayo Ikueduranni, Communications Officer for the FADAMA GUYS programme, said in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja that Mr Akin Olotu, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Agriculture, made the promise in Akure.

The statement quoted Olotu as saying that the government had demonstrated its passion to develop the state through agriculture by seeking partnership with the World Bank and the FADAMA Office.

Olotu said that Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu had visited both the offices of the World Bank and FADAMA programme, within the first two months of his administration, to seek their collaboration.

He said that 200, out of the 300 business plans submitted by participating youths in the state, would be funded by the FADAMA GUYS programme.

The governor’s aide assured the participants of the state government’s support by engaging them in its agricultural programmes.

Olotu said that the government had set aside 15,000 hectares of land for cassava cultivation to boost production of ethanol, adding that the scheme would involve 2,000 youths.

He said: “The state government has approved that five youths from each of the 18 local government areas of the state be trained in modern technology and nursery management.

“Each youth will have access to five hectares with irrigation facilities to practise grafting, budding and production of a variety of cash crops like oil palm, cocoa and citrus.’’

Also speaking, the State Project Coordinator of FADAMA, Olusiji Olatunji, urged the beneficiaries of FADAMA GUYS programme to remain focused and committed.

He advised the beneficiaries to demonstrate a high level of commitment so as to encourage the government to extend the opportunity to more youths.

He commended the facilitators of the training for organising a robust training programme for the youths.

One of the beneficiaries, Miss Taye Amosun, who spoke on behalf of others, pledged to make the training a life changing one.

She thanked the State Fadama Project Office for its support in the course of the two-week training.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Federal Government and the World Bank, under the FADAMA III Programme, in April approved a new scheme under FADAMA GUYS programme, with the aim of engaging about 6,000 youths in agricultural enterprises.

NAN)