Owo ( Ondo State), Jan. 14,2026 ( NAN) The Ondo State Government on Wednesday, appealed to youths in the state to embrace its poultry empowerment initiative, describing the gesture as a reality, not scam.
The Senior Special Assistant ( SSA) on Agric and Agric-Business to Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Mr Rotimi Akinsola, made the appeal during the graduation of the first set of participants of the programme in Isuada, Owo Local Government.
The programme is tagged “Adiye Irorun”.
He said that the programme targets 75 unemployed youths across the state, adding that participants would be trained for a six weeks duration, on poultry with payment.
“The essence of this programme is for you to learn and take your mantle from there; and start your own business.
” This is the first set and we just want to show that it’s not a scam but it’s real and that people get paid for their services.
” You can now go and tell your neighbours that Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa is actually putting food on the tables of the youths, and taking them away from the street,” he said.
The SSA said that the first set of beneficiaries from the southern and central zones, would graduate from the programme in few weeks.
According to him, the idea of the programme is to enable beneficiaries make money and be financially buoyant so that they can start their business when they graduate.
” The idea is to make you poultry farmers: you learn and understand the rudiments and you are being rewarded so that you can get enough money to start your own business,” he said.
In reaction, a beneficiary, Mr Samuel Ajewole described the initiative as impactful as it will uplift young people and create meaningful opportunities.
Ajewole added that the initiative was a clear testament to the governor’s dedication to youth development and food security.
He said that the knowledge gained, skills acquired, and exposure received, had personally strengthened his resolve to contribute positively to agricultural development and youth engagement.
Ajewole said that he was qualified to be paid the sum of N500,000 after completion of the six-week training.
The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports that the participants received certificates, evidencing completion of their participation in the programme.(NAN)
