We will create 10,000 jobs for youths in 2018 – FCT agriculture secretariat

In its effort to  reducing youth militancy and joblessness, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat has promised to create 10,000 jobs for youths in selected agricultural value chains, in 2018, in the territory.
Disclosing this in Abuja, Secretary of FCT Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Nzekwe Ifeanyichukwu, said that the secretariat was working closely with Area Councils to ensure that it reached out to Nigerian youths in the territory.
Ifeanyichukwu, who spoke at the secretariat’s end-of-year media briefing, also said it had ensured the revival of some of the agricultural programmes, which would ensure that the youths interacted with farmers with a view to helping them to tap into the benefits the relevant programmes organised by the FCT.
“This is to help them key into the various Federal Government programmes, to ensure their successful implementation in the FCT. One of such programmes is the Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme.
“We have indicated our interest to be part of the scheme, which will take effect in 2018. It is co-ordinated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and it aims at creating 10,000 jobs for youths in the Area Councils,” he added.
He further gave the assurance that the secretariat would actualise the programme as soon as possible by liaising with other relevant stakeholders in the country.
“Our mandate in the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat is tied to the Agricultural Promotion Policy (APP) of the Federal Government.
“This is predicated on working with key stakeholders to build an agri-business economy capable of delivering sustained prosperity by meeting domestic food security, generating exports and supporting sustainable income and job growth,’’ he said.