Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture Abisola Olusanya has charged no fewer than 100 women and youth graduands of the State Agripreneurship Programme to be committed to the attainment of the government’s food security goal.
Olusanya stated this at the graduation ceremony of the second batch of the Lagos Agripreneurship Programme on Sunday at the Agricultural Training Institute, Araga, Epe.
She further reiterated the commitment of the state government to engage, equip and empower women and youth particularly to become world class agripreneurs.
The commissioner, represented by the Permanent Secretary in Ministry of Agriculture Olayiwole Onasanya, noted that the programme was conceptualised by the administration of the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to solve the hydra-headed problem of women and youth unemployment in the state.
“It has become increasingly obvious that if a bold step is not taken to address the issue of youth and women unemployment, the state may become a hot bed for symptoms of youth restiveness.
“Previous administrations have embarked on a journey to create jobs, alleviate poverty and ensure food security in Lagos state through the establishment of Agriculture-based Youth Empowerment Scheme, popularly known as Agric-Yes.
“Overtime, 600 youths have been trained in various agricultural value chains,” she said.
The commissioner added that the programme was set up with the aim of training and empowering a much larger number of women and youth in agricultural value chains, including Aquaculture, poultry, piggery, and Vegetable as well as entrepreneurship skills and E-Agric.
