* Oore hails Tinubu, Olawande for initiative
By Nudoiba Ojen
Eminent traditional rulers on Friday graced the opening of Cooperative Youth Farmers and Allied Entrepreneurs Enrollment Programme in Abuja to chart course for better lives for the younger generation.
The monarchs, who were at the event on the invitation of the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, included the Etsu of Nupe and Coordinating Committee Chairman of National Council of Traditional Rulers, HRH Alhaji (Dr) Yahaya Abubakar.
Monarchs in attendance included the Oore of Otun Ekiti and the Southwest Coordinator of National Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Adekunle Adeagbo; and the Chairman Enugu State Traditional Council of Rulers, Igwe Samuel Asadu, who is also the Chairman of South East Traditional Rulers Council.
Olawande said the event, which is one of the initiatives under the Nigerian Youth Economic Engagement and De-Radicalization Programme (NIYEEDEP), would foster economic opportunity for youth, especially those at the grassroots to access opportunities in the agriculture and its value chain.
The event also featured launch of the Youth Farmers Enrolment Portal as a robust platform for mobilizing young farmers across the country to receive support for the advancement of their farming operations.
The minister said, “This landmark initiative, which would bring together key stakeholders including government functionaries, private sector players, diplomatic missions, NGOs, CSOs and development partners, is designed to improve youth economic engagement, aid young people in agric-related ventures and promote the actualization of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s food security agenda.
“This programme seeks to create six million direct jobs in 2025 within the agric-related sector of the economy, contributing to household poverty alleviation, food security, mass employment generation, youth de-radicalization and national stability”.
In a chat, the Oore, Oba Adeagbo, praised President Bola Tinubu government for creating the platform, which he said would add values to Nigerian youth and indeed the entire populace.
Oba Adeagbo also hailed the Minister of Youth Development, who he described as a “very humble personality and vibrant young man with the drive and technical know-how. His capacity to deliver the expected good for the country is not in doubt”.
The traditional ruler, who pledged the traditional institution’s support to the youth, however, urged them to key into the programme to better their lives and the lot of the country as he prayed that “our children will be greater than us by the grace of God Almighty”.
