Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat has urged the beneficiaries of the State’s Agro-Processing Productivity Enhancement And Livelihood Support (APPEALS) project to put their training and subsequent support from the project into productive agricultural use.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Hamzat advised the beneficiaries to ”access the grant element of the project by developing viable investment plans that will not just make (them) agro-prenuers but also employers of labour.”
The deputy Governor stated this at the graduation ceremony of the batch 1 of the 1,620 beneficiaries of the women and youth empowerment scheme (WYEP) of the project at the Lagos Agricuture Institute in Araga, Epe.
Hamzat, who was represented by Mr. Adedoyin Adesanya, Chairman, Epe Local Government, said the APPEALS project was aimed at supporting farmers’ productivity, noting that the beneficiaries should avail themselves of several opportunities the collaboration between the Federal and State governments as well as the World Bank offer to them by coming up with viable business plans that will see them move up the ladder in agric-entrepreneurship.
The deputy governor congratulated the beneficiaries of the first batch APPEALS project empowerment programme, describing their success at the selection stage as a great feat.
He said: “Being here today as beneficiaries of APPEALS project women and youth empowerment programme is a major feat after being selected out of the over 7,000 applicants for the available 1,700 slots.
“I wish to congratulate all the beneficiaries on your involvement in this laudable project which is aimed at supporting the unemployed and the under-employed.
He also commended the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture for achieving the feat.