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ONDO SET TO TRAIN 1,000 YOUTHS IN FISH PRODUCTION UNDER ‘EJA-IRORUN’ EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME
The Ondo State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming agriculture into a viable platform for wealth creation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable economic development through a series of innovative agribusiness programmes targeted at youths and women across the state.
The Chairman of the Ondo State Agribusiness Empowerment Centre (OSAEC), Hon. Rotimi Akinsola, stated this during a courtesy visit by members of the National Union of Okitipupa Local Government Students (NUOLGS) to the agency’s office in Akure.
Hon. Akinsola explained that under the leadership of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, the state government has strategically repositioned agriculture from subsistence farming to a modern and profitable enterprise capable of producing entrepreneurs, exporters, processors, technology innovators, and employers of labour.
According to him, OSAEC has been mandated to implement practical and impactful programmes aimed at empowering young people and women with the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to succeed in agribusiness and contribute meaningfully to the state’s economy.
He disclosed that the agency’s flagship Adiye Irorun Programme has already recorded significant success by empowering hundreds of youths and women across the state, while possessing the capacity to benefit thousands more in the coming years.
The chairman further highlighted other ongoing and upcoming initiatives designed to expand economic opportunities within the agricultural value chain.
These include the Bio-Organic Fertiliser Training Programme, which is structured to equip young people with practical skills in sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural practices.
Hon. Akinsola also announced the forthcoming Eja Irorun Programme, a youth-focused aquaculture initiative that will train and empower 1,000 beneficiaries over the next two years, thereby enhancing fish production and creating employment opportunities across Ondo State.
He expressed optimism about the implementation of the Ondo State Agricultural Development Programme, a strategic partnership between the state government and the Commonwealth Women’s Network.
According to him, the initiative is expected to open up extensive opportunities for thousands of youths and women through modern agricultural development, capacity building, and empowerment schemes.
The OSAEC chairman further listed the proposed Hydroponics Training Initiative, the planned empowerment of 2,000 participants in yam production, and the WISE Programme on Cassava Production as key interventions that will further strengthen food security, improve agricultural productivity, and stimulate economic growth in the state.
He urged residents, particularly young people, to take advantage of the numerous opportunities being provided by the government through OSAEC, noting that agriculture remains one of the most accessible and rewarding pathways to financial independence and sustainable livelihoods.
The Permanent Secretary of the agency, Mrs. Olukemi Akinyemi, expressed appreciation to the leadership and members of the student union for deeming it fit to pay a courtesy visit to the agency.
Mrs. Akinyemi commended the student leaders for their sense of responsibility and dedication to promoting the interests and welfare of their colleagues.
She assured them of the agency’s readiness to collaborate with relevant stakeholders in initiatives that would empower young people, enhance educational development, and create opportunities for sustainable growth.
Earlier in his remarks, the National President of the National Union of Okitipupa Local Government Students (NUOLGS), Comrade Adeoye Omoleminu, commended the Ondo State Government and OSAEC for their innovative programmes aimed at making agriculture an attractive and profitable venture for young people.
He noted that the union’s visit was to appreciate the remarkable achievements of the agency under the leadership of Hon. Akinsola and to identify areas of collaboration that would benefit students and youths expecially in Okitipupa Local Government Area.
Comrade Omoleminu pledged the union’s readiness to partner with OSAEC in sensitizing students and young people on the numerous opportunities available in the agricultural sector, expressing confidence that such collaboration would contribute significantly to youth empowerment and community development.
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