As part of the Federal Government’s effort to revamp the nation’s agricultural sector, the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in Oyo State has commenced the 2024 Sustainable Agricultural Development Training Scheme (SADTS) .
During the launch of the training scheme in Ibadan, Mallam Abubakar Fikpo, NDE Director General who was represented by the NDE Oyo State Coordinator, Mrs. Olayinka Steve-Ogundipe, revealed that the goal of the scheme was to encourage unemployed Nigerians to venture into agriculture as a business as this would help in the creation of jobs, enhancement of food security and serve as means of wealth creation.
Mallam Fikpo expressed gratitude to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, for providing an enabling environment for the agency to promote agriculture as a business opportunity for unemployed Nigerians.
She noted that the scheme was in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Today we are here to launch the training of the 50 participants, under the 2024 SADTS, he said.
“These prospective participants are drawn from local governments and senatorial districts of the 36 states of the federation and FCT.”
He explained that the goal of the program is to create employment within rural communities. According to him, this will be achieved by empowering participants on modern agricultural practices, such as cultivating various vegetables and raising livestock. The program will also equip participants with an understanding of the value chain associated with these products.
In his remarks, Deputy Director, Rural Employment Promotion, Mrs. Beatrice Oruoyehu, represented by Mr. Chimaobi Eleleme stated that the SADTS training scheme is designed to achieve two key goals; economic reform that ensures long-term, inclusive growth, as well as boosting the agricultural sector to ensure food security for the nation.
Mr. Kabir Adedoja, Head of Rural Employment Promotion department, Oyo NDE, noted that the participants were selected from the three senatorial districts of Oyo state.