Lokoja, Jan. 15, 2026 (NAN) The Federal Government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-assisted Value Chain Development Programme Additional Financing (VCDP-AF) have launched a three-week training programme for 20 youth farmers in Kogi.
The training, organised by the Kogi State VCDP in collaboration with the Nigeria-Korean Institute of Vocational and Advanced Technology (NKFI), Lokoja, commenced on Wednesday.
Launching the programme, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Timothy Ojomah, congratulated the participants on their selection.
He said the initiative was designed to equip the youths with practical skills in the fabrication and maintenance of agricultural equipment, with a focus on the cassava and rice value chains.
Ojomah noted that the participants represented their communities, local governments and the state, urging them to justify the opportunity.
“To whom much is given, much is expected,” he said.
The commissioner added that the training aligned with Gov. Ahmed Ododo’s agenda to empower youths, promote mechanisation and enhance food security in the state.
He commended IFAD-VCDP’s leadership in Kogi for implementing impactful interventions that had improved farmers’ livelihoods and agricultural productivity.
Ojomah assured the participants of the Ododo administration’s continued support to enhance their livelihoods.
Earlier, the State Project Coordinator (SPC), Dr Stella Adejoh, said the programme aimed to empower youths with employable skills while strengthening food security in the state.
She explained that the training focused on fabricating simple farm tools for cassava and rice value chains.
Adejoh said the programme was the second phase of the fabrication training, with 20 participants selected from five local government areas: Ajaokuta, Kabba-Bunu, Ibaji, Lokoja and Olamaboro.
“We expect the participants to cascade the skills acquired to their communities and farmer clusters, making farm operations easier and more efficient,” she said.
The SPC added that beneficiaries would receive starter packs at the end of the training to support their outreach and service delivery.
She praised Gov. Ododo for his support and prompt payment of counterpart funding, which had enabled the programme to record measurable impact among benefiting farmers.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of the Kogi State Agricultural Development Programme (ADP), Dr Bello Ogirima, stressed the importance of mechanisation in agriculture and commended the governor for prioritising farmer support.
The Rector of NKFI, Dr Oluwatoyin Williams, said the NKFI–Kogi VCDP partnership was beneficial to the state.
Represented by the Director of Academic Planning, Mr Omada Eneojo, Williams assured participants of quality training, covering welding and fabrication of farm equipment, among other skills.
Some participants, including Sefiat Yusuf from Ajaokuta and Lewis Oguche from Ibaji, expressed gratitude to the FGN/IFAD-VCDP and pledged to apply the knowledge gained. (NAN)
