By Bianca Iboma
Vice President of Aiyedoto Farm Settlement, Ojo, Lagos, Jude Okwudili, has lauded Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, for his agricultural initiative, Commercial Agricultural Development Project (CADP), aimed at empowering youths and women in the state.
Okwudili said over 1,000 women and youths have been equipped with agricultural skills and farming technology which is creating employment for the youths in the state. He said the governor has a determination to reduce youths’ unemployment in the 17 local government areas of the state.
“When the pilot project was launched last year, a lot of people did not believe the initiative would yield bountifully and beneficiaries were just young school leavers, rural youth leaders and a few graduates.
“The programme is equally meant for tertiary institution graduates, so they can become agribusiness entrepreneurs who would be involved in farming, storage, processing, value addition, marketing services and logistics,” he said.
Okwudili said in a statement, that the CADP programme has enjoyed support from the government in areas of land, technical, entrepreneurial, financial business and marketing skills as well as links to major agribusinesses that can provide market and mentorship.
He disclosed that CADP is designed to provide necessary skills and opportunity for both young women and men to have equal access to decent jobs, as well as the empowerment of Enugu youths.
He urged other youths to make use of the opportunity and participate in the training exercise, saying they would be trained in different farming techniques which will enable them contribute their quota to development.
“The youths are receiving the needed support from their governor in the areas of subsidised farm inputs and empowerment scheme. It is the youths that can help discourage foreign food items if they engage themselves in agricultural production. It is true that most of the programmes outlined by previous government for agriculture advancement have not been replicated, but, I have seen the positive impact it is making in Enugu, a major reason I am commending the governor’s efforts.