Ebonyi governor, Mr David Umahi, plans to make multi-millionaires out of 10,000 youths in his state through agricultural engagements.
Umahi talked about the plan at the graduation of 171 Ebonyi youths trained at the CSS Integrated Farms in Gora, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
The youths were trained in animal feeds production, garri processing, using automated equipment, rice milling and packaging.
They were also trained in irrigation farming, production of egg crates, soya beans cake production, poultry, and fishing and mechanised agriculture over a period of one month.
The governor said 300 Ebonyi youths had earlier benefitted from the agricultural training programme in the same institution.
“If you add the 300 to the 171 graduating today, we are getting close to 500 graduates. I saw their excitement and willingness. It was obvious that they have discovered their destinies.
“We shall empower them. We shall encourage them to form cooperatives, a kind of farmers club. Back home we have people that we have so empowered with start-up capital of between N300,000 and N5 million.
“With this project we are going to raise multimillionaires for them to graduate into multibillionaires. And this is God’s vision, because, every step of it, is God’s directive,’’ the governor said.
He noted that the training would give beneficiaries a new lease of life and take their minds away from unwholesome practices.
“We have graduated from infrastructure in which we have laid an irreversible foundation for our state; it is now time to build on the infrastructure.
“Agriculture is part of it and we are building the people to go into it.
“From there, industrialisation will spring up in the state. I feel excited because, when God gives you an assignment, it may look so tasking and insurmountable, but if you accept it, you will see God making a way.
“Today is remarkable because it is like the day that Moses received the 10 Commandments for the children of Israel at Mount Sinai.
“Today, I have received the commandment for Ebonyi on this land; on CSS land, and it will be remembered in the history of Ebonyi,’’ Umahi said.
The governor commended the more than 500 farm officials for their commitment to their assignments.
In his remarks, Chairman of CSS Group, Mr John-Kennedy Okpara, advised the trainees to remain focused and be committed in applying the skills acquired so as to be successful.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Opara later led Umahi and his entourage on a tour of the farm’s processing, production and packaging departments. (NAN)
