By Ado Hassan, Sokoto
The International Fund for Agricultural Development(IFAD) has announced plans to train Sokoto state youths on various entrepreneurial skills.
The essence according to Mr Ben Odoemena, IFAD Country Programme Manager, is to promote and ensure self reliance of youths.
In a statement Wednesday by Hayatu Jibo Dallatu, Knowledge Management and Communication Officer of the Programme in Sokoto said Mr Odoemena made the disclosure while on a supervision and assessment mission of preparations and activities in northern states where its programme were ongoing.
According to the statement, “The field assessment visit is the second mission visit to Sokoto in collaboration between IFAD and Federal Government.”
The Official further explained that it was
aimed at assessing each community Development based Association (CDAs) across 17 local government areas of the state on their level of preparations for IFAD related activities and programmes.
” They are key to our activities that is why we are here to know their level of preparations in readiness for IFAD’s support to boost their agriculture businesses”, Odoemena said.
Similarly, the Country Official the statement quoted as saying ” we are also here to clarify the difference between CBARDP which was mainly focused on building clinics, schools among others and CASP, which amainly focuses on three commodity value chain so as to give farmers the opportunity to earn more in their business activities.”
In doing so, Odoemena said the programme would consider factors as climate change, desert encroachment, erosion and winds.
Also, Mr Marc De Sousa, Rural Financial and Entreprises Development Specialist, the visit was an opportunity to acquaint themselves with innovative ideas on CDAs for replication in related areas of IFAD’s prpgrammes across the country.
” We know how anxious CDAs are for the projects to start but it is necessary to assess ourselves”, he pointed out.
In their respective remarks according to the statement, the State Programme Officer, Alh, Aminu Aliyu Dogon Daji and the District Head of Gindi, Sarkin Kudun Gindi at the field visit in Tambuwal local government, Muhammadu Sambo Abubakar commended the National Headquarters of IFAD, on arrangement and assured of their full support in the implementation process of the people oriented programme in respective communities.
The statement said the team visited Saida ,Romo, Jirga and Rabah villages of Tambuwal, Bodinga and Rabah local governments among others
