No less than 1,300 women entrepreneurs in Oyo State have been trained under a French government-sponsored program based on the Nigerian agro-industrial sector, Governor Seyi Makinde of Nigeria told Ibadan on Friday. Oyo State.
He said so when launching the labeled training program; “Support for female entrepreneurship in the agro-food sector in Nigeria (SWEAN)”, at the premises of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, (IITA).
The governor said he was delighted with the selection of women from Oyo state for the program, noting that the relationship between the state and the French government had enabled development.
“We are delighted that our women in Oyo State are among the 300 direct beneficiaries and 1,000 indirect beneficiaries of this program.
“So the reality of interventions like this is that they have the potential to accomplish more than expected.
“Historically, our women are known to be very enterprising, not only cultivating, but also finding markets for their products.
“Some go as far as merchandising, making the most of the informal structures to which they have been exposed. So with the training they will receive during this SWEAN program, I have no doubt that they will excel even more, ”said Makinde.
Earlier, Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner Jacob Ojemuyiwa said Oyo and Kaduna states were the only two states selected for the SWEAN program, which he described as a great opportunity. for women entrepreneurs.
Ojemuyiwa added that the training would go a long way in expanding the skills of women agribusiness entrepreneurs in both states.
Meanwhile, the governor expressed gratitude to the French government for its assistance in the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), saying the state had already mapped out the roads that would be the focus of attention. in the program.
He said the state government’s plan to complete 200 km of access roads by the end of 2021 remains on track, while calling for more interventions as any investment made in the state would go directly to the people.
The governor said the state is open for business and his administration will continue to play its role in ensuring that every investment in the state is successful.
Regarding the government’s collaboration with IATI on the “Start Them Early (STEP) program, Makinde said it has started showing positive results with six more schools from all areas of the state joining the program.
NAN
