Federal College of Agriculture, Ondo State has commenced a training programme to engage 500 youths in agricultural practices and other entrepreneur schemes.

The training programme which was themed ‘The Skills for Jobs’held at the college in Akure, Ondo state.

The participants for the programme were chosen across Ondo state, in the six local government areas. Most of the participants were selected from Owokure North, Ifedore, Ese-Odo, Akoko South-West and Ile Oluji/Oke Igbo Local Government areas, Ondo state.

During the training programme, the Acting Provost of FECA, Dr. Akinyemi Fadiyimu said that the programme would last for three months and it is going to be highly concentrated training, also including boarding facilities for the participants.

FECA has partnered with the Federal Government and other cooperate bodies to train many Nigerians, he added.

He said, “The institution has provided all the human resources and facilities to make the training a huge success. The trainees would have three square meals.

“The college has also provided crèche facilities for the nursing mothers who are among the beneficiaries so as to minimize all forms of distraction during the training sessions.”

The Ondo state Coordinator of Youth Employment and Social Support Operation, Mr. Dare Awokoya revealed that the training programme commenced successfully through the collaboration of the Federal Government, Ondo State Government, and the World Bank, adding that the World bank took the responsibility of 90% of the financial commitment.

He said, “It is one of the components of YESSO which focuses on piloting a new approach to demand-driven skills training to increase the effectiveness of efforts to combat unemployment among youths from poor and vulnerable households.
“The strategy involves training in vocational, entrepreneurship skills and of course internship that will enable the trained youths to be self-employed, wage earners and even employers of labor.”

SOURCE: AGRONIGERIA