Fadama Guys Programme: A’ Ibom Govt Promises to Engage Trainees
In order to boost agricultural development in the state, the Akwa Ibom State Government has promised that none of the 300 graduands from the Fadama Undergraduate Youths and Women Agro-prenuer Initiative, popularly referred to as Fadama-Guys programme would be abandoned during the empowerment exercise.
The state governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel gave the assurance at the graduation and certificate award ceremony, which marked the end of a two-week training session of the Fadama-Guys programme in the state.
Being the very first batch to have been floated across the state and the country at large, the governor pointed out that his administration would do everything within its powers to ensure the programme succeeds in the state. “This is the beginning of a new generation of farmers. Government is impressed by the wonderful report on your excellent conduct and is prepared to assist you with everything within its powers to enable your success. We are happy with you, but will be happier with your bumper harvest”, he declared.
The governor who was represented by the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Sufficiency, Dr. Uduak Udoinyang advised the participants not to trivialise the opportunity accorded them, but maximise same for best results. “It all starts with having a good intention, sacrifice where necessary; prepare to face challenges and think beyond the box. Every one of you will be empowered,” he stressed.
Fadama-Guys is an innovation by the National Coordination office of Fadama, which seeks to promote the interests of more youths between the ages of 18 – 35 by encouraging them in different fields of agriculture through training and empowerment to practice agriculture.
Following the selection of the 300 participants out of 476 who had applied online for enlistment into the programme in Akwa Ibom, a two-week capacity-building course to train participants on the basics and rudiments of their choice fields of agricultural endeavour was organised for them.
By the arrangement, at the end of the capacity-building programme the Fadama Office would empower 200, while the rest of the participants’ fates were not defined, hence the state government’s intervention.
Also speaking at the event the chairman of the technical committee on agriculture and food sufficiency, Prof. Edet Udoh congratulated the graduands on their successful completion of the session and wished them well in their practice of agriculture.
He confessed that “when we started this programme, I was very apprehensive because I felt most of you would abandon it half-way, but you have proven me wrong,”.
Adding that, “this is another feat by Akwa Ibom records, starting and completing the programme with the 100 percent participants intact.”
Udoh who paid glowing tributes to the state governor, for keying into the Fadama partnership programme, maintained that the state government’s support had culminated in the superlative performance of Fadama III Additional Financing activities in the state, which had earned her rating as among the most rated across the country, inspite of the state’s relatively new entry into Fadama AF programme. He lauded the participants for their good conduct throughout the training session, pointing out that officials of the National Coordinating office of Fadama, who were on ground to monitor the exercise in the state, had expressed satisfaction with the trainees’ behaviour.
He advised the graduands to be hardworking and adventurous as they proceed with their agricultural practice. “We are training all of you to be certified farmers; don’t stay at home but go out into the fields for best results”.
On his part, the state Fadama coordinator, Mr. Richard Sam described the programme as one of the greatest things government had done towards reducing youths unemployment, as he thanked all the participants for demonstrating zeal and commitment throughout the duration of the programme.
“The template for disbursement, monitoring and tracking of the empowerment packages would be very strict, as high technology standards such as GPRS, etc would be used to verify location of beneficiaries’ farms to ensure that the funds are used for the purposes intended,” he submitted.
Responding on behalf of the graduads, Mr. Nkereuwem Bassey Okon thanked the state government and the World Bank for the opportunity given them and pledged to justify the confidence reposed in them.