Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun on Tuesday, disclosed that his administration is set to offer business-oriented youths in the state with grants ranging from N500, 000 to N10 million under the Ogun Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneurial Programme (OGYES).
The grants, expected to offer unemployed youth and women across the state with wide range of opportunities, will be disbursed under the Ogun Youths Empowerment Scheme (OGYES) scheduled for relaunch in the next few weeks.
The state governor made this known while speaking at the Remo International Youths Day, held at Iperu-Remo in Ikenne local government area of Ogun State.
Speaking at the event themed: “Transforming Food Systems: Youths Innovation for Human and Planetary Health”, Governor Abiodun explained that the grant would provide the beneficiaries with necessary cash needed to expand their businesses while other youths would have access to interest-free digital loans.
Abiodun further said that more youths will be trained in the area of Digital Training Enterprises and added that technical and vocational training would also be provided for other youths in the state.
“The Ogun Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneurial Scheme that we will be launching in the next two weeks aims to do a few things; it is a programme directed at our Ogun State youths.
“We will identify, through a process, our young men and women who are entrepreneurs—those who have a flair for starting their own businesses or those who are already engaged in various businesses. We will support them with various grants.
“We will give them grants that will start from N500, 000 to N10 million. This will allow them to have the cash they need to expand their businesses and provide cash flow for them. Others will have access to interest-free digital loans. All this we are unveiling in the next few weeks.
The governor also said that his administration had concluded arrangements to introduce the Ogun Youth Agricultural Programme.
He said that the state would replicate the Soilless Farm Lab currently in operation in Awowo in Ewekoro local government area of the state.
Abiodun noted that the Ogun Youth Agricultural Programme would commence in Remoland where 2,000 youths would be trained every three months on farming with 8,000 other youths trained in Soilless Farm Lab technology yearly.
The governor however, expressed the importance of youth participation in agriculture to achieve food security and agricultural excellence.
“Our food systems are at a pivotal juncture, and the importance of a robust food system cannot be overstated, it impacts our health, environment, and economy. As we confront issues such as climate change, food shortages, and health crises, it is clear that innovative solutions prioritising human and planetary health are essential,” he said.
Speaking earlier on the occasion, the Akarigbo and Paramount Ruler of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, who was represented by the Onirolu of Irolu, Oba Sikiru Adeyiga, called on the youths of Remoland to work hard and not allow laziness to take charge of their lives.
He also called on the state government to help the youths who are interested in agriculture with tractors.
