The Ogun State Government has awarded grants and land to 25 indigenes who graduated from the Enterprise for Youth in Agriculture programme.
The initiative, in collaboration with Soiless Farm Lab and the Mastercard Foundation, aims to boost agricultural endeavours in the state.
During the graduation ceremony at Awowo in the Ewekoro Local Government Area, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Bolu Owotomo, emphasised the significance of the gesture.
According to a statement on Tuesday, the commissioner explained that the initiative would build a new generation of farmers to take over from the ageing ones.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Samuel Adeogun, the commissioner said, “The state government is committed to transforming the agricultural sector by encouraging more youths to engage in agriculture and creating an enabling environment for the sector to thrive through various intervention programmes.”
In his remarks, the team lead of Soiless Farm Lab, Samson Ogbole, said the initiative would attract young people to agriculture by providing modern training.
“We taught them how to build a greenhouse from scratch, and skills in bricklaying, plumbing, electrical works, farm management, financial management, budgeting, and human management,” he said.
Participants praised the state government for the training and support, committing to use the land and cash gifts to contribute to food security in Ogun State and Nigeria.
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