'Operation Go Back To Farm' : YCYW Trains Over 100 Youth On Agricultural Development

In a bid to assist the Federal Government to reduce unemployment rate in Nigeria, The Yoruba youth group under the aegies of Yoruba Council of Youths Worldwide YCYW has trained over 100 youths in Ogun state on Agricultural Development.

Cross section of some of the participants after the training in Abeokuta 

The first phase started up with capacity building through the training of close to 150 youths present in this hall today on one of the key agricultural enterprise in Ogun state, The training according to guest lecturer, Professor Saani OLADIMEJI, IITA Agriculture scientists said the training cost 250,000 for private sector but the youths are getting it free courtesy of Yoruba Council of Youths Worldwide YCYW.

"Cassava Production Value Chain" Cassava being one of the main food crop which Ogun state has comparative advantage on with availability of v?fast areas of arable land. Also considering the high dependency on it's by-products as both for food and industrial use such as cassava flakes, flour, cassava starch, ethanol and sorbitol. 

Guest Lecturer, Dr Godwin Atser...IITA Expert

Meanwhile, the group has reportedly engaged various stakeholders including government, private sector players, agribusiness experts and agricultural institutions which has helped us attain this current fit of being able to secure a collaboration and support of International institute for Tropical Agriculture ( IITA) Ibadan a well grounded agriculture institute that in general known as Hub of  Cassava Roots Production & Reseach. 

Hon Sunday Ogunbowale, Chairman Yoruba Council of Youths Worldwide YCYW Ogun State chapter 

According to Hon Sunday Adebowale, Ogun state chairman of Yoruba Council of Youths Worldwide YCYW while addressing the press said "I must let you all know that this program is not just ending here as we will be moving down to the farm to immediately establish our model cassava farm with the first set of serious-minded individuals. In addition, we shall initiate the discussion with several micro-production centers where members interested in processing value-chain could be linked with those facilities to add values to cassava tubers. 
Our agricultural intervention program will also bridge the gap between agriculture passionate youths and business-oriented youths as we will facilitate several entrepreneurial training for our youths to have the capacity to run agriculture successfully as a sustainable business to cater to their economic needs. 
As we all know that journey of a thousand miles begins with a step, Yoruba Council of Youths worldwide (YCYW) ogun state Council has taken the first giant stride step to further awaken our youth's interest in agribusiness complementing the government and other several stakeholder's efforts. With your support, we will make the desired impact in the Ogun state agricultural sector as a the umbrella body of all  socio-cultural Yoruba organization in Ogun state and Nigeria under the Glober President of Aare Oladotun Hassan Esq, and Our Royal Grand Patron His Imperial Majesty OBA BABATUNDE OGUNWUSI OONI of ife .Ojaja ii. He said. 

Comrade Olamide Lawal, Special Assistant to Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun on Youths with Hon Sunday Adebowale 

In the same vain, he appreciated the support of ogun state government led by His Excellency Prince Dapo Abiodun MFR. For his loadable giants stride in the are of Agricultural and other developmental agenda in our dear gateway state in the last 2 years. 

"To whom much is given much is expected, we want to appreciate the following Distinguished leaders and important personalities  Distinguished HON IBRAHIM ISIAKA,Chairman House Committee on Ecological funds  (MHR Ifo/Ewekoro),HRH Oba(Dr) Faluade Fakayode Olu of Ibogun, (YCYW Royal PATRON),Hon Dr Taiwo Emmanuel(HC for Culture and Tourism) Professor(Aare) Saani OLADIMEJI of IITA,Hon (Amb) Farouk Akintunde, Dr Oganla Oladimeji, Hon  Olanrewaju Michael George (OMG) ,Engineer Nathaniel Sodipo all our Royal fathers in Ogun state  Among other's ,for their usual unflinching and fatherly support towards the emancipation and progress of Yorunw coucil of Youths Worldwide Ogun state Council. Hon Sunday Adebowale added.

He called on all well-meaning Youths and stakeholders in Ogun state  to join hands with Yoruba Council Of Youths Worldwide YCYW to move the state to the next level in terms of Agricultural development and sustainability.