Legislator empowers Akoko youths on livestock production

Boosting the participation of Nigerian youths in agriculture, the Federal lawmaker representing Akoko South East/South West Federal Constituency Hon. Kolawole Babatunde has partnered with the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity to encourage over 40 of his constituents into livestock farming.

The beneficiaries, who are mainly youths from the two local governments, benefitted from the training and empowerment programme on how to rear chickens like broilers, layers and cockerels for business purposes.

At the three days training held last week at Oka-Akoko in Akoko South West Local Government Area of the state, participants were given funds, chicken feed, vaccine, stove, automated cages and chickens that worth millions of naira.

The Coordinator of the programme, Timothy Korede said the lawmaker has introduced this project, which he said was the second phase, as a way of curtailing the menace of youth unemployment in the society.

Korede noted that engaging the youths positively in such initiative, will considerably enable them to utilize their innate abilities for profitable ventures in agriculture and thereby prevents restiveness in the constituency.

Babatunde said he has taken steps to engage his constituents, especially the youths, frequently, through skills acquisition and educational development; and more importantly, to key into the diversification drive of the Federal Government.

The lawmaker noted that he decided to train them on livestock production in his second phase project because the business is lucrative and will add more value to their lives.

He said the All Progressives Congress (APC) government led by President Buhari has taken agriculture as one of the cardinal projects of his administration, berating the State Government for not doing much for agriculture.

“We as lawmakers should not fold our arms, but support the President in this agenda. He wants to diversify the economy and our youths must be empowered and encouraged to embrace agriculture,” he said.

Babatunde added that the youths were being trained and financially empowered to start the business without any challenge.