5700 youths to benefit from Lagos initiative on agro-business empowerment scheme

No fewer than 5700 youths will benefit from the agro-business training and empowerment programme scheduled to beginning in Lagos this week.

The programme, an initiative of National Images Agro-Business Training and Empowerment Programme, will take-off in Epe and Ikeja, in the first phase of the programme.

Project Coordinator, Seyi Bamigbade, told reporters that no fewer than 11,500 had applied for the programme, out of which 5700 were shortlisted.

Bamigbade stressed that the programme was for the less-privileged in the society and the beneficiaries had been shortlisted accordingly.

He informed that for the first batch, 1000 youths will be trained and empowered in Epe at the Epe Youth Recreation Centre, starting from June 13, 2016. Another 1500 youths will be trained and empowered in Ikeja at Ikeja Youth Sport Centre starting from June 20, 2016, adding that the second batch will take place in November 2016.

Bamigbade said the training would be done in partnership with Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and the Association of Micro Entrepreneurs of Nigeria (AMEN).

He said in addition to the training, participants would be taught how to write business proposals and draw business plans.

The coordinator added that participants would be enrolled in the cooperative scheme of the programme, just as they will be thought on how to access loans from Bank of Industry and Bank of Agriculture.