Ekiti state government has approved the clearing of 500 hectares of land for farm cultivation by youths in the state at a sum of N115Million as part of efforts to boost the state’s Youth Commercial Agriculture Development Scheme (YCAD).
The State Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mr Tayo Ekundayo who made this known in Ado Ekiti while briefing the Press on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting, said that another sum of over N50million was also approved to procure fire fighting equipment and accessories to ensure rapid response and prompt intervention against fire disasters in the state.
Mr. Ekundayo reiterated the commitment of the Fayemi led administration for the safety of lives and property of the people stressing that employment generation for its teeming youths is also a top priority for the government.
The Commissioner explained that government gesture was to engender its Youth Empowerment Drive and guarantee the safety of lives and property of the people through effective intervention in event of fire incidents.
Stressing that the state government was passionate about improving the living standard of the people in the state particularly the youths, Ekundayo said that the YCAD programme would be constantly reviewed to accommodate more interested and qualified beneficiaries.
He said that the impact of commercial farming in the state would soon be felt across the country going by the pace of commercialization of agriculture by the state government through YCAD and other
complementary programmes. “I can assure you that Ekiti will soon become the food basket of western Nigeria and beyond. This administration is desperate and passionate about improving the living standard of these teeming Ekiti youths. Practically, these youths are being assisted with the needed
aids that would ensure they are placed on higher pedestal than their counterparts in the other sectors of the economy, he affirmed.
Mr Ekundayo added that the agric programme will also increase the IGR and boost the overall development of the state.
He enjoined youths in the state to make use of the employment opportunities provided by the government through the YCAD scheme anxious other agricultural initiatives to promote their future. Charging people in the state to be security conscious and shun any act that may lead to fire outbreaks, the Commissioner assured that government would leave no stone unturned to guarantee the safety of lives and properties adding that the present administration would maintain the prevailing peace in the state.
“We are not resting on our oars. This is a peaceful government. We want to ensure that the peace and safety of our people are guaranteed. From now, what you should expect is better service delivery and more impactful intervention. The assurance we are giving you is that fire outbreak will no longer be a threat to the lives and property of our people, he said.
Ekundayo assured that the Fayemi administration would keep on initiating people oriented programmes that would continue to have direct impact on the people in the state.
Last modified: November 29, 2013
