The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Youth Development, has trained 541 youths in its National Youth Agriculture Training Programme.
The Minister of Youth Development, Mr Ayodele Olawande, made the disclosure on Friday in Jos at the closing ceremony of the training.
Olawande said the youths, who were drawn from the North Central, North West, and North East geopolitical zones, were trained for two weeks in various skills of beekeeping, cassava processing, fish processing, and entrepreneurship.
The minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Olubunmi Olusanya, said the aim of the training was to empower Nigerian youths with viable skills, especially in the agricultural sector.
According to him, the gesture would help address the issues of youth restiveness and unemployment.
He called on the youths to ensure that they utilise the skills learnt to enable them to become self-reliant and future employers of labour.
Mrs Deborah Pitmang, Zonal Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Youth Development, urged the participants to heed the teachings on leadership and entrepreneurship and apply the skills acquired during the programme.
Mr Noel Nukup, Plateau Commissioner for Youths and Sports, commended the Federal Government for the laudable programme describing it as apt and timely.
Nukup, who was represented by Dr Lopwus Amos, a director from the ministry, urged the FG to sustain the programme which is aimed at empowering the youths.
Mr Dominion Idah, a participant from North Central, commended the Federal Ministry of Youth and Social Development for organising such a laudable training.
Idah said the training showed the FG commitment to empowering youth with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in business.
He described the workshop as an “eye-opening experience” and acknowledged the exceptional facilitators and comprehensive materials provided.
The participant expressed his eagerness to apply the skills acquired from the training to become self-reliant.
Similarly, Miss Ene Ochapa, a participant, said the training was very impactful and would enable her to become an employer of labour in the near future.
She, however, appealed to the FG to provide start-up grants for youths to enable them to have capital for their businesses.
The training commenced on November 12.
