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In a bid to reduce the rate of youth umeployment in Kwara, the State Government has beamed its economic interest on agriculture, saying it is ready to create 20,000 jobs for youths in the State across the agricultural sector.
Kwara State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr Adegoke Bamidele, who made this known on Saturday, said the youths will be trained on crops farming, poultry, piggery, animal husbandry, and fishery among several others.
He said the youth will be selected across the 16 local government areas of the state, but, without stringent selection criteria.
“There are no criteria for selecting the youth; the empowerment programme is for both graduates and undergraduates.
“The idea is to engage the youth in agricultural business as it is the only alternative source of revenue generating to oil sector.
“If 20,000 youths are empowered in agricultural business, it will boost the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) of the state and also enhance its economic development,’’ he said.
According to the commissioner, the idea is to make the youth not to depend on government jobs alone but to also be self employed.
“Private organisations are sacking workers day by day, but the only secured job is the skilled job.
“That is one of the reasons why the government is empowering youths to embrace agriculture and to encourage them to contribute their quota to the development of the nation, ‘’he said.
Bamidele reckoned that the agricultural sector remains one of the most viable and sustainable sectors that can lead Nigeria out of recession.
He urged the Federal Government to create enabling environments that will support State Governments in exploring the agricultural sector towards reducing youth unemployment in the country.