The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has disclosed that the 200 beneficiaries of the Ogun State Fadama 3 Graduate Unemployed youths Scheme(Fadama Guys) would be considered and given an opportunity to be the first set of farmers that would derive grants from the Ogun State Anchor Borrowers Program recently inaugurated in the state.
Prince Abiodun who made this known at the official flag off ceremony for Fadama Graduate Unemployed youths Scheme(Fadama Guys), held at the governors office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, said that the Fadama Guys was a particularly unique program as it targets two main vulnerable groups of the population, adding that a gainfully employed citizenry would contribute in no small measure to the socioeconomic development of the state and the country.
” I was just discussing with Dr. Oredipe and I said these guys, how can we integrate them into our anchor borrowers program and I have mandated Dr Oredipe, Consultant on agriculture, our agric team, the permanent secretary to seat down and integrate you into our Anchor Borrowers Program, so by the grace of God, you will be the first beneficiaries of our anchor borrowers program.
” The ‘Fadama Guys’ is particularly unique because it is targeted at two main vulnerable groups of our population, the youths and the women and we are also elated that our Public Private Partnership approach towards the successful implementation of building our future together agenda is already yielding positive results,” he said.
The Governor added that the Fadama Graduate Unemployed youths Scheme(Fadama Guys) at the Micro Economic level would provide employment opportunities in agriculture for youths and women, adding that the Macro Economic level would help the country boost its food and self sufficiency agenda.
” At the Micro Economic level, this Fadama Guys provides job employment opportunities in agriculture for our youths and women, thereby providing income and food for themselves and family, on the Macro Economic level, this is another boost to Nigeria’s Food and Self Sufficiency Agenda, this will go a long way to reduce foreign exchange spent on importation of food items that could be produced locally,” he said.
In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Abosede Ogunleye said that the objective of the National Fadama Development Project Additional Funding was to increase the income of users of rural lands and water resources in a sustainable manner throughout the country, thereby reducing poverty, while food security was enhanced, urging the beneficiary to judiciously make use of the grants they received.
In his remarks, the Consultant to the Governor on agriculture, Dr. Adetunji Oredipe said that the conception and implementation of Fadama Guys has provided a unique opportunity for the program practitioners and government to harness the energy, motivation and innovation of the young people to strengthen the drive for diversification of the economy and social change, adding that beneficiaries of the program must be a Nigerian youth ,a graduate from any higher institution or an holder of the Secondary School Leaving Certificate who has practiced farming between the age of 18 and 35.
Oredipe also added that such beneficiary must have the knowledge about the computer, have access to land on a place where the Agric Enterprise would be cited, adding that a written statement stating that the beneficiary was willing to become an Agri- Preneur would be required.
Also in his remarks, the National Project Coordinator, Fadama Guys, Mr. Balarabe Abdulrahman, represented by Mr. Adeleke Adeyemi, expressed his appreciation to the Ogun State Government for their support and keen interest in the project Fadama 3, saying that the gesture would boost the state’s rating by the National Office and the World Bank.
In his response, the president of the Fadama Guys in Ogun State, Mr. Adebanjo Daniel thanked the state government for their support, promising to judiciously use the grants received.
The flag off of the Fadama Project, saw the presentation of checks to 200 beneficiaries.