Ebonyi trains 200 youths in horticulture, says Commissioner


 Chief Sabinus Nwankwegu, the Ebonyi Commissioner for Economic Empowerment and Job Creation, said on Wednesday that 200 youths from the state were undergoing training in horticulture in Abuja.
The commissioner told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abakaliki that the training was part of government's efforts at ensuring that unemployed youths received requisite skills in agriculture and allied fields.
Nwankwegu described horticulture as lucrative and also as an important branch of agriculture that deals with plants, flowers and vegetables.

Gov.Dave Umahi
He said that the youths, on completion of their training, would be assisted with take- off funds to enable them to establish their own businesses.
``The initiative is part of plans by government to reduce poverty and unemployment among youths.
``It is part of the Gov.Dave Umahi-led government’s drive to eliminate youth unemployment by engaging them in meaningful agricultural activities.
``The trainees, on completion of their programme, will be assisted with grants to establish horticultural gardens," Nwankwegu said.
He advised youths to take advantage of the agricultural revolution of the present administration to enhance their socio-economic profile.

``The focus given to agriculture by the federal and state Governments is commendable, and I want the youths, both employed and the unemployed, to key into the programme.
``The state of the economy necessitated by low oil revenue has made a shift to agriculture imperative.
``Governments at all levels are shying away from recruiting people into public service because of the difficulty of coping with high wage bills due to the current economic recession," the added. 

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