Ogun State government is set to offer grants, ranging from N500,000 to N10,000,000, and interest-free digital loan to business-oriented youths, under its Ogun Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneurial Programme, to allow them have financial resources to expand their businesses.
The state governor, Dapo Abiodun disclosed this during the Remo International Youth Day, with the theme, ‘Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health’, at the Christ Apostolic Grammar School, Iperu-Remo in Ikenne lo2cal Government Area.
Abiodun stated that more youths would be engaged to undergo digital training enterprises, while others would be provided with technical and vocational training to enable them become experts in various fields.
While revealing that Ogun would soon join other states to harvest rice that was planted three months ago, the governor promised that his administration would introduce Ogun Youth Agricultural programme, that would be replicated across the state, leveraging the Soilless Farm Laboratory currently in operation in Awowo, Ewekoro Local Government Area.
He said: “The Ogun Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneurial Scheme that we will be launching in the next two weeks aims to do a few things; it is a programme directed at our Ogun State youths.
“We will identify, through a process, our young men and women who are entrepreneurs—those who have a flair for starting their own businesses or those who are already engaged in various businesses. We will support them with various grants.
“We will give them grants that will start from N500,000 to N10 million. This will allow them to have the cash they need to expand their businesses and provide cash flow for them. Others will have access to interest-free digital loans. All this we are unveiling in the next few weeks.
“We will also be training others in what we call Digital Training Enterprises—those who have a flair for ICT, those who want to improve their digital skills, and those who can become social media influencers and marketers.
Also speaking, Commissioner for Sports Development, Hon. Wasiu Isiaka, noted that the event was designed to make a significant impact in the lives of youths in Remoland and the state, appreciating the effort of Remo Growth and Development Foundation for organising the programme.
Isiaka also commended various youth organisations in the state for embracing dialogue rather than protest, noting that the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration would continue to engage and empower youths.
In his remark, Akarigbo and Paramount Ruler of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, represented by the Onirolu of Irolu, Oba Sikiru Adeyiga urged youths in Remoland to brace up and tap into the agricultural opportunities in the state, calling on government to make tractors available for them.
