College Of Agric Iguoriakhi: Obaseki Commends Leventis Foundation For Absorbing Students For Internship

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has commended the management of Leventis Foundation for absorbing students of the College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi, who were deployed to the Foundation’s Weppa Farm in Agenebode, for a three-month internship.

The governor, who said this during the foundation laying/groundbreaking ceremony for the Foundation’s Agricultural Management Training Institute, noted that the commitment displayed by the Foundation in revamping the farm and training indigenes of the state in mixed commercial farm management is inspiring.

He said that the state government is willing to partner with the organisation in training and supporting youths through its agriprenuer programme, noting that the partnership will be such that the students will not only get trained in mixed commercial agriculture but will be provided with support to set up and manage their own farms.

According to him, “We want to create a new crop of agriprenuers that will benefit from the expertise at Weppa farm. We will support them by helping them set up farms for farming, animal husbandry or for cultivating vegetables. We will provide the needed support while they get trained. We have signed agreement for off-takers of the products so that the people are sure of a market for their produce.”

Noting that the state government is leveraging on the agricultural policies of President Muhammadu Buhari, he said, “Our president has unleashed an unprecedented agricultural revolution with programmes from the Central Bank of Nigeria, such as the Anchor Borrowers programme that has released a lot of financial and technical resources to assist farmers in Nigeria.

“With these sorts of programmes from the federal government, we, as a state, realised that except we train a new generation of competent men and women, who understand the rudiment of modern-day agriculture, we will not reap the full benefit of the opportunities the Federal Government is creating. That is why as a state we have decided to reposition our schools of agriculture located in Iguoriakhi, Agenebode and Irrua. So, to find a partner like Leventis Foundation, who on their own, have decided to set up an institute, is encouraging.”

PHOTO:
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (2nd left) inspecting facilities at the Weppa Farm run by Leventis Foundation; he is flanked by his Chief of Staff, Chief Taiwo Akerele (2nd right); Chairman, Leventis Foundation, Alhaji Ahmed Martey (right); and Chief Executive Officer, Weppa Farm, Kayode Simeon (left), during the foundation laying/groundbreaking ceremony of Agricultural Management Training Institute, in Weppawanno, Agenebode, Etsako East Local Government, Edo State.