AGRICULTURE: EMPOWERMENT OF YOUTHS, A PANACEA FOR A BETTER SOCIETY.....OBIANO

GOV OBIANO

The Anambra Agropreneur Talent Hunt in Agriculture and Science and Technology in Anambra state has seen about 100 young entrepreneurs who are set to benefit from the programme.

This was the disclosure by the Special Adviser to the Anambra state Governor on Youth Mobilisation and Empowerment, Dr Onyeka Ibezim, during the finals of the one-month talent hunt in Awka on Monday, December 5, 2016.

According to Dr. Ibezim, the programme was meant to empower youths who have interest and innovative prowess in agriculture as well as science and technology.

Finalists at the hunt would be given soft loans ranging from N500, 000 for individuals to N5 million for Cooperatives to set up artisan businesses and small scale farms, Ibezim said.

Dr. Onyeka Ibezim, whose office is coordinating the programme, disclosed that the financing of the young entrepreneurs would be provided by the Anambra State Small Business Agency.

“We have been focused on the plans to empower the youth and our youths have been factored into the various pillars of this administration”.

“This time, we are focusing on exceptional talents in the Agriculture and Science/Technology Sectors”.

“These are youths who did well in the various local government areas and have qualified for the finals”.

“They will be supported in the aspects of farming they excelled in like fisheries, poultry, vegetable farming and even root crop farming”, the Governor’s aide stated.

“The loan that we shall give to these young talented farmers and artisans is the softest you can think of in this country and it will be fully guaranteed by the Anambra State Government”.

As Ibezim said, “the talent hunt was open to all youths irrespective of educational qualification, adding that the next phase would target those with prospects in entertainment and sports”.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Emeka Iloghalu, a member of the Panel of Judges who is also a fisheries expert, said he was impressed with the attitude of the participants to farming.

The fishery expert said the talent hunt, organized in collaboration with the state Ministries of Agriculture, Science and Technology as well as Culture and Tourism could make youths wealthy from venturing into modern agriculture.