Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has announced plans to sponsor 100 youths from the state for agricultural entrepreneurship training at CSS Global Integrated Farms in Nasarawa State.
The initiative is part of efforts by the state government to empower young people, promote entrepreneurship and create more opportunities in the agricultural sector.
Governor Eno made the announcement on Tuesday at the ninth edition of the Ibom Ignite Conference, held at Ibom Hall in Uyo.
He said the training would provide the beneficiaries with practical agricultural knowledge and skills needed to take advantage of opportunities within the sector.
The governor encouraged young people to embrace continuous learning, rethink their business strategies and adjust to changing economic conditions, stressing that the ability to adapt and reinvent oneself was crucial for long-term success in business.
According to Eno, the Ibom Ignite programme, which was launched in 2017, has provided participants with opportunities to discover new possibilities, develop entrepreneurial mindsets and strengthen their businesses.
He said his administration’s focus on mentoring and empowering youths was aimed at equipping them with the entrepreneurial and leadership skills required to contribute positively to society.
The governor also highlighted some of the youth-focused programmes implemented by his administration. He disclosed that 2,000 youths had been trained through the Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurial Development Centre (Ibom-LED), with each participant receiving a ₦750,000 start-up package.
He added that another 2,000 youths had undergone training at the Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre and received start-up grants ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦1 million each.
Eno further disclosed that the state government was working to establish youth development centres across all 31 local government areas of Akwa Ibom State.
He urged participants at the conference to make full use of the opportunities available to them, continue improving their skills and remain focused on building sustainable businesses.
The sponsorship announcement was made during the conference, which was themed, “Reinvent, Rethink, Reimagine, Redesign and Become.”
Delivering the keynote address, Apostle Joshua Selman spoke on “The Courage to Become: Why Your Next Level Requires a New You.” He emphasised the importance of self-awareness, access to relevant information, consistent action, courage and sacrifice in achieving personal growth.
Also speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of CSS Global Integrated Farms, Professor John Kennedy Opara, identified passion, strong performance and the ability to recognise opportunities as key ingredients for entrepreneurial success.
Opara, drawing from his experience in the agricultural sector, encouraged young people to remain committed to their ambitions, stay focused on their goals and value the importance of starting small.
