By Debra Abidemi Ajulo
The member representing Ilorin East/Ilorin South federal constituency in the national House of Assembly, Hon. Abubakar Amuda Kannike, weekend, facilitated the empowering of 50 youths and women from the constituency on agri-preneurship training.
The 3-day training program which was in conjunction with the House Committee on Agric Production and Services and the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi was held at Harmony Intercontinental Hotel, Ilorin.
In his key note address, Hon. Kannike who was represented on the occasion by a Senior Legislative Aid (SLA), Barrister Lanre Giwa lamented what he described as the embarrassing rate of unemployment among youths.
According to him, “…of all the factors that contribute to violence, armed conflict, militancy, insurgency and poverty in Nigeria, lack of appropriate mechanism for meaningful youth engagement, empowerment and development are the most critical.
“It is therefore obvious that to achieve long lasting solution to the alarming rate of youth unemployment and restiveness, all stakeholders must commit selflessly to te process of ensuring that youths are empowered with socio-economic independence.”
He however noted that given the number of graduates been churned out annually by tertiary institutions in the country there is no government that can provide adequate white-collar jobs for the army of unemployed youths on the streets except the youths turn to vocational trainings like agripreneur.
Earlier in his address, the representative of the consulting firm, Mr. Lanre Babalola had explained that the program is aimed at encouraging young people to be self sufficient and stop the overdependence on government for jobs.
He noted that, “our youths must become self sufficient and job creators rather than job seekers, until this is done we can not truthfully say as a nation that we are progressing.” He therefore urged
In her vote of thanks, one of the participants, Miss Ayandele Yinka commended Hon. Kannike, the House Committee on Agric Production and Services and the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi for the training.
Also Mr. Felix Okorie, another participant assured organisers of the program that participants would make the best use of everything learnt at the training.
“The aim of organising this training will not be defeated as we promise to make maximal use of everything we shall learn here to the benefit of ourselves, families, immediate community and the nation as a whole,” he said.
END.
