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 FAOassisted programme could meet and
brainstorm on how to properly implement the
YEAP in various states.
National Mirror
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