Dare Babalola
The Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (O-ORBDA) has graduated 37 young agripreneurs from its Graduate Youth Empowerment Programme (GYEP), providing each with ₦500,000 startup capital to kick-start their agribusiness ventures. The graduation ceremony was held at the authority’s headquarters in Abeokuta.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of O-ORBDA, Dr. Adedeji Ashiru, reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to food security through the active involvement of Nigerian youth in agribusiness.
“The Federal Government is determined to motivate young Nigerians to embrace agripreneurship as a way to tackle unemployment and boost food production,” Ashiru said on Wednesday at the graduation ceremony of 37 participants of the 2024/2025 Graduate Youth Empowerment Programme held at the authority’s headquarters in Abeokuta.
Since its inception in 2016, the GYEP has produced over 200 agriculturally skilled graduates. The latest batch of trainees underwent a six-month training programme, equipping them with practical knowledge in arable crop farming, poultry management, and fisheries. The training was designed to expose participants to the “nitty-gritty” of modern agriculture and prepare them to contribute meaningfully to food production, wealth creation, and job generation.
Ashiru emphasised that the ₦500,000 startup capital for each graduate is not merely a grant but an investment in Nigeria’s future.
He added, “The ₦500,000.00 you are receiving today is not merely a grant — it is an investment in Nigeria’s future, a seed that must be planted wisely to yield an abundant harvest,” he said. “Your mission extends beyond personal success to national impact.”
The Managing Director urged the graduates to remain focused, disciplined, and committed to excellence.
He continued, “To our dear graduates, as you step into this new chapter of your lives, remember that you carry with you not just knowledge and capital, but the hopes and aspirations of a nation.
“You are not merely graduates; you are agents of change in Nigeria’s agricultural transformation, job creators for the next generation, and food security champions for our nation.”
On his part, the Executive Director of Agricultural and Commercial Services, Mr. Sulaiman Akeem, noted that the programme provides hands-on experience, giving participants practical skills to boost food production and create wealth across the agricultural value chain.
“The programme trained participants in poultry, fisheries, and arable crop production over six months,” Akeem said.
One of the beneficiaries, Olalekan Daniel, commended the initiative, saying the training had “sufficiently empowered them to join in the vanguard of boosting food production in the country.”
The GYEP is a flagship initiative of the Federal Government designed to combat youth unemployment and strengthen food security through agripreneurship. The programme aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda to boost food production, create jobs, and achieve sustainable economic growth by making agriculture attractive to the youth.
Ashiru praised Tinubu and the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, for their commitment to sustaining the GYEP initiative and driving food production efforts nationwide. With over 200 beneficiaries having graduated from the programme, many have gone on to establish thriving agribusiness ventures, contributing to local food systems and job creation.
