Firm empowers 50 youths in agric business

Chevron Nigeria through its subsidiary, STAR Ultra Deep Petroleum Limited, has sponsored 50 youths of Oyo State origin, on a three-month capacity building course in Agro-business, Catering and Tourism.

The oil giant also restated its commitment to the enhancement of agricultural business in the country, especially among the Nigerian youths.

Recently, the company trained select youths from the state at the Oluponna Fish Farming and Resource Foundation Centre, Institute of Agriculture, Oluponna Town, Osun State.

This was disclosed by Chairman, Star Ultra Deep Petroleum Limited, Mr. Lanre, represented by a top staff of the company, Mike Kabi, during the valedictory ceremony of the first set of capacity building graduating students at the centre.

The training of the 50 graduates, drawn from a pool of 500 men and women who applied for the intensive courses, were jointly sponsored by Ultra Deep Petroleum Limited, Lukoil Oil Company, Oil and Gas (Nig) limited among others.

Chevron’s Acting Director, DW and PSC, said, “today’s graduation ceremony in Agriculture and catering is another demonstration of the Co-venturers’ determined efforts to enhance the capacity building of Nigerians and improve agriculture.

“We are also committed to making social investments that will add value to people’s lives in several other spheres of human endeavour. This economic development programme, aimed at building capacity in young Nigerians to go into farming and to make farming a potential career and a business, is one of such investments.

He said “OFER Centre Institute of Agriculture has come to stay and is getting better and stronger to make meaningful contributions to the wellbeing of our beloved country.

Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development, Oyo state, Prince Oyewole Oyewumi, described the event as a pragmatic approach towards enhancing food production, poverty alleviation and job creation among other things.