It was all about Agribusiness yesterday at Adetiloye Hall, Trade Fair Complex Ado-Ekiti, as youths from across the state gathered to participate in the ground breaking Connect to Work event.
The Ekiti state government and Agbetuntun, came together to see the launch of the youths “connect to work” initiative in Ekiti state, an initiative that according to the CEO and Founder of Agbetuntun, Chief Kola Akosile, looks to enumerate over 8,000 youths in the state.
Chief Kola Akosile further speaking on the importance of agribusiness and various opportunities for youth, reminded them of the vast available funds which they can access to grow their business.
Agriculture is not just farming, but a business
This was one of the key points at the event, as facilitators and guest speakers lectured participants on the various business opportunities in the Agriculture industry, businesses that doesn’t necessarily involve farming.
Speaking with our reporter, the Program Director (Connect to Work), Akin Alabi said;
“Agriculture is the only sector that can create employment for youths today in Nigeria. We recently saw the GDP and unemployment rate in Nigeria, but agric is the only sector that can help our youth create the employment they need today.
This three day program would be targeted at training the youths and also create channels for job creation for them.”
In attendance to grace the ground breaking occasion were players in the agribusiness and trade industry, they included: The Ekiti state commissioner for agriculture, Dr Olabode Adetoyi;The Ekiti state Commissioner for Trade and Industry, Aare Muyiwa Olumilua; The Ekiti state Commissioner for Youth, Michael Alonge; Director General MEDA, Otunba Kayode Fasae; OSCCIMA President, Mrs Modupe Olakunle; The GMD Ekiti Fountain Investment Holdings ltd, Mr. Oska Seyi Ayeleso; The DG Bureau for Employment, labour and productivity, Ekiti state, Lanre Ogunjobi.
The DG Ekiti State Enterprise and Economic Development Agency, Mr. Oska Seyi Ayeleso, during a media chat after the event, thanked the organisers for bringing such an event to the state.
He also highlighted the business model of Agbetuntun as a positive one, sighting the identification, guidance and engagement process.
Agbetuntun is a skillful and unique amalgamation of the various segments of the existing Agribusiness scheme of international Development partners such as DFID, USAID, GIZ and FGN Intervention schemes viz- BOI-GEEP, NIRSAL’s Commercial Grain production financing and Guarantee scheme, CBN Anchor Borrowers programme with linkages with Agro subsidy-GESS.