Ali Muhammad Rabi’u.
At least 300 youths across Kwara state have been equipped with job creation and entrepreneurship skills by the State government, in collaboration with the State Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Project,
Speaking at the event in Ilorin ,the State Commissioner for Livestock Development and Chairperson of the Kwara SAPZ Technical Committee, Oloruntoyosi Thomas, said the training would expose the youths to “viable business and job opportunities within the livestock and agro-industrial value chains.
She said it will also strengthen their capacity in business development, financial management and enterprise sustainability; and encourage innovation and self-reliance rather than dependence solely on salaried employment.
The Commissioner, who oversees the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, noted that the participants were expected to acquire improved knowledge, practical entrepreneurial skills and a better understanding of enterprise development.
She said these would ultimately result in “new and strengthened youth-led enterprises, increased employment opportunities, improved livelihoods and greater participation of women, youths and persons with disabilities in the economic opportunities that will emerge from the SAPZ Project.”
Mrs Thomas appreciated the state government for his continued commitment to youth empowerment, agricultural transformation and the successful implementation of the SAPZ Project.
According to her the administration’s livestock development efforts in Kwara epitomised prosperity.
She explained that the “intervention is particularly important because the success of SAPZ should not be measured only by the physical infrastructure build, but also by the jobs, enterprises and sustainable livelihoods created for our people, especially within our host and catchment communities.”
She encouraged the participants to apply the knowledge acquired during the training to productive and sustainable ventures.
She added that the skills would help them improve productivity and maximise profit, urging them to “start now, start small and start at home.”
In her remarks the State Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Hauwa Nuru, described the SAPZ initiative as a crucial demonstration of the state government commitment to transforming agriculture from a subsistence enterprise into a modern and commercially viable sector capable of creating jobs, generating wealth and driving inclusive economic growth.
Dr. Nuru urged the youths to embrace the training opportunity with seriousness, discipline and determination, while charging them to be innovative and entrepreneurial and create opportunities that would contribute to prosperity in society.
In his welcome address, the State Project Coordinator, Kwara State Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Project, Dr. Busari Isiaka, explained that the intervention was timely for youths and women in and around the project’s ATC locations, noting that it would contribute significantly to addressing unemployment.
He added that the success of SAPZ would translate into the creation of jobs, enterprises and sustainable livelihoods for beneficiaries.
Busari revealed that the Kwara SAPZ Project prioritises the participation of youths and women in its implementation process to enhance economic sustainability. He said the support provided to the participants would help grow the state’s economy and contribute to its industrial and agricultural transformation.
Busari described the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones Project as an important platform for connecting farmers to processing, processing to markets, and young people to emerging opportunities across the agricultural value chain.
For his part, the Chairman of D-Positive Global Image Services Consult Limited, Mallam Nasir Abdulquadir, encouraged the participants to work towards translating their talents and values into prosperity, noting that their potential could be harnessed by making effective use of the skills acquired during the training.
He stressed the need for the participants to remain passionate about achieving their dreams, charging them to begin applying and testing the skills acquired during the training to ensure that the intervention was productive and impactful.END
ALI MUHAMMAD RABIU
