By Richard Elesho
Kogi governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has promised to turn the state into the hub of livestock production in Nigeria, using the its vibrant youth and women population.
The governor made this known in his office in Lokoja during an interactive session with 500 women and youth in the poultry value chain on Tuesday.
Ododo praised the federal government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the World Bank Group for introducing the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) project which he described as a game changer in the agricultural sector in the state.
The Governor expressed the determination of the State Government to meet the objectives of the L-PRES project.
He stressed that state will utilize its strategic location, vast arable land and abundant human resources to enhance productivity and guarantee food security in line with the campaign promises of his administration.
“It aligns seamlessly with our administration’s short, medium, and long-term plan to make Kogi the epicentre of livestock production in Nigeria,” he said.
He reiterated his administration’s quest to support youths, women, and People With Disabilities (PWDs) in the state.
The state Comissioner for Agriculture and food security, Timothy Ojomah, said the credit supply initiative for livestock farmers in the state will improve the welfare of the people through improved livestock productivity.
In his remarks, the state coordinator of L-PRES project, Dr. Olufemi Bolarin noted that the L-PRES project will continue to empower women and youths in the agricultural sector through the credit support for women and youth entrepreneurs in the poultry value chain.
“One of the critical focus areas of L-PRES is to incorporate content and approaches to close gender gaps in livestock ownership and value-chain position, such as training in socio-emotional skills to support women’s successful entrepreneurship, or adjustments in training content, delivery modalities, and timing to accommodate gender differences in digital literacy, digital access, and household responsibilities.
“This program isn’t simply about poultry. It is about igniting the flames of self-reliance and empowerment within the very heart of our communities. It’s about nurturing the potential that resides within each of our beneficiaries with this support as the spark they need to bring to light the greatness embedded in each one of them.
“This is our expressive pledge to the well-being of the women who are the backbone of our families, and the youths who are brimming with fresh ideas and a thirst for success,” Dr. Bolarin said.
On his part, the Technical Adviser to the Governor on Multilateral and Donor Agencies, Dr. Abdullahi Ozomata congratulated the beneficiaries and urged them to make the best use of the opportunity given to them by the state government and its partners.
The L-PRES project, which is a partnership between the World Bank and the Kogi state government, has so far provided credit support for 500 women and youth farmers in the poultry value chain in Kogi State.
