Sunday Okobi
The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has
disclosed that the 200 beneficiaries of the Ogun State Fadama 3 Graduate
Unemployed Youths Scheme (Fadama Guys) would be given automatic slots to be the
first set of farmers that would derive grants from the state Anchor Borrowers
Programme launched last Monday in the state.
The governor, who made this known at the official
flag-off ceremony for Fadama Graduate Unemployed Youths Scheme (Fadama Guys) at
the governor’s office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, said the Fadama Guys was a particularly unique programme targeting two main vulnerable groups-women and
youths-of the population.
He observed that agriculture is becoming an
antidote to the twin problem of poverty and insecurity in the country, adding
that a gainfully employed citizenry would contribute in no small measure to the
socioeconomic development of the state and the country.
Accordingly, Abiodun plans to put 40,000 youths on
the Anchor Borrowers scheme with support from the World Bank and the Central
Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
He said: "I have mandated my consultant on
agriculture to mainstream these sets of FADAMA graduates into our anchor
borrowers programme, and by the grace of God, you will be the first
beneficiaries of our anchor borrowers programme.
Under the programme, beneficiaries would be
allocated a hectare of land with certificates of occupancy, provided clearing
facilities, offered seedlings, fertilizer and extension services as well as
off-takers who would buy off the produce for their industrial needs.
"The 'Fadama Guys' is particularly unique
because it is targeted at two main vulnerable groups of our population, the
youths and the women, and we are also elated that our Public-Private
Partnership (PPP) approach towards the successful implementation of building
our future together agenda is already yielding positive results."
The governor added that the Fadama Graduate
Unemployed youths Scheme (Fadama Guys) at the micro economic level would
provide employment opportunities in agriculture for youths and women, adding
that the macroeconomic level would help the country boost its food and self-sufficiency
agenda.
According to him, "At the micro economic
level, this Fadama Guys provides job employment opportunities in agriculture
for our youths and women, thereby providing income and food for them and their family,
but on the macroeconomic level, this is another boost to Nigeria's food and self-sufficiency
agenda, which will go a long way to reduce foreign exchange spent on importation
of food items that could be produced locally."
In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of
the Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Abosede Ogunleye, said the objective of the
National Fadama Development Project Additional Funding was to increase the
income of users of rural lands and water resources in a sustainable manner
throughout the country, thereby reducing poverty and enhancing food security, urging
the beneficiary to judiciously make use of the grants they received.
In his remarks, the Consultant to the governor on
agriculture, Dr. Adetunji Oredipe, said the conception and implementation of
Fadama Guys has provided a unique opportunity for the programme practitioners
and government to harness the energy, motivation and innovation of the young
people to strengthen the drive for diversification of the economy and social
change, adding that beneficiaries of the programme must be a Nigerian youth, a
graduate from any higher institution or an holder of the Secondary School Leaving
Certificate who has practiced farming
between the age of 18 and 35.
Oredipe also added that such beneficiary must have computer;
have access to land where the agriculture enterprise would be cited, adding
that a written statement stating that the beneficiary was willing to become an
Agri-preneur would also be required.
Also in his remarks, the National Project
Coordinator of Fadama Guys, Mr. Balarabe Abdulrahman, represented by Mr.
Adeleke Adeyemi, expressed his appreciation to the Ogun State Government for its
support and keen interest in the project Fadama 3, saying the gesture would
boost the state rating by the National Office and the World Bank.
In his response, the President of the Fadama Guys
in Ogun State, Mr. Adebanjo Daniel, thanked the state government for its
support, promising to judiciously use the grants received.
At the flag-off of the Fadama Project, 200
beneficiaries were presented with cheque.
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