Ogoni youths graduate from Shell-sponsored training for farmers

A total of 60 youths from Ogoniland on Tuesday graduated from training on agricultural entrepreneurial programme organised by Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, in an effort to introduce them to viable means of livelihood.

The youths from the four local government areas in Ogoniland – Tai, Khana, Gokana and Eleme – received the four-week training at the Songhai Farm at Bunu-Tai, where they learnt vital skills in fishery, cassava production and poultry farming.

“The training is key first step towards making Ogoni youths self-reliant and eventually become employers of labour,” said Vincent Nwabueze, SPDC’s Ogoni Restoration Project manager, at the graduation ceremony, saying, “We urge the new entrepreneurs to work hard and be steadfast in their various enterprises, irrespective of any initial challenges that may confront them.”

King Godwin Giniwa, the Gbene Mene Tai and president, Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, said: “I want to thank Shell for what they are doing. They should continue to do more, especially to touch the lives of the people, because we are partners.”

Festus Ugwuzuo, director, Youth Enterprise Development and Promotion in the Rivers State Ministry of Youth Development, said “the agricultural training initiative of the SPDC JV under the Ogoni Youth Entrepreneurial Scheme has come at a time when there is growing need to diversify Nigeria’s economy.”

Brian Udoh, the training officer of Songhai Farm Rivers State, said the 60 trainees recorded 85 percent success in the programme, which equipped them to maximise the full value chain of each of their areas of specialisation.

Representatives of the trainees, Jane Jiala, Nkiken Nwafor and Hanson Nwidobie, thanked SPDC and their trainers for the opportunity given them to make a difference in their lives.

The trainees were given funds for land preparation, business take-off and implements relevant to their trades. Another payment will be made to them when their businesses have taken off. Using the findings of a baseline survey, SPDC JV designed the agricultural programme to include links to market and credit facilities as well as mentoring and monitoring services for the beneficiaries.