NGO to create 63,000 agric jobs in Kebbi

A Birnin-Kebbi based organisation, Youths In Agriculture, said it had registered 63,000 unemployed youths for its agricultural empowerment scheme aimed at providing jobs. Hajiya Rabi Zuru, the State Coordinator of the scheme, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Birnin-Kebbi on Monday that 3,000 job seekers in each of the 21 local government areas were registered for the programme. “The pilot scheme will be launched next month. “Beneficiaries will be trained on the production of commercial cassava, water melon, rice, vegetables, cereal and livestock production. “The federal and state governments will support the scheme,” she said. Rabi said the Emir of Zuru, Alhaji Muhammadu Sami, had allocated 1,400 hectares of land for the formal take-off of the pilot scheme. ”We will accord priority to women to be involved in the diversification of their economic opportunities. “The era of high expectations on employment has passed. “Job seekers are expected to be productive as well as contribute to the socio-economic development of the state through agricultural initiatives, “ she said.