Aiming to empower entrepreneurial youths in Ogun State, Governor Dapo Abiodun revealed plans to offer grants ranging from N500,000 to N10 million through the Ogun Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneurial Programme.
Abiodun announced that the disbursement of grants will kick off in the upcoming phase of OGYES, which is set for a relaunch soon. This initiative will provide unemployed youths and women with diverse opportunities, enabling them to receive financial support to grow their businesses. Additionally, other youths will have access to interest-free digital loans.
These declarations were made by the governor at the Remo International Youth Day event themed ‘Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health,’ held at Christ Apostolic Grammar School in Iperu-Remo.
Abiodun also announced plans to train more youths in Digital Training Enterprises, along with offering technical and vocational training opportunities to other youths in the state.
He specified, “The Ogun Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneurial Scheme that we will be launching in the next two weeks aims to do a few things; it is a programme directed at our Ogun State youths.
“We will identify, through a process, our young men and women who are entrepreneurs—those who have a flair for starting their own businesses or those who are already engaged in various businesses. We will support them with various grants.
“We will give them grants that will start from N500,000 to N10 million. This will allow them to have the cash they need to expand their businesses and provide cash flow for them. Others will have access to interest-free digital loans. All this we are unveiling in the next few weeks.
“We will also be training others in what we call Digital Training Enterprises—those who have a flair for ICT, those who want to improve their digital skills, and those who can become social media influencers and marketers.
“We will also be providing technical and vocational training. This is very important because today, Ogun State is a massive construction site. We will be training our youth to become construction experts and contractors—those who will have the zeal for building, painting, welding, and many other skills.”
The governor further revealed the upcoming introduction of the Ogun Youth Agricultural Programme, replicating the Soilless Farm Lab operational in Awowo, Ewekoro Local Government Area. The programme will initiate in Remoland, training 2,000 youths every three months and imparting Soilless Farm Lab technology to 8,000 youths annually.
Abiodun committed to continuous development in the state, sharing plans to partake in the rice harvest occurring this week from the planted crops three months earlier.
He emphasized the crucial role of young people in the community’s future health and prosperity, stating, “Our food systems are at a pivotal juncture, and the importance of a robust food system cannot be overstated—it impacts our health, environment, and economy. As we confront issues such as climate change, food shortages, and health crises, it is clear that innovative solutions prioritizing human and planetary health are essential.”
At the event, the Paramount Ruler of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, represented by the Onirolu of Irolu, Oba Sikiru Adeyiga, encouraged the youths to work diligently and avoid succumbing to laziness. He also urged the state government to assist youths interested in agriculture with tractors.
Additionally, the summit received commendation from the Commissioner for Sports Development, Wasiu Isiaka, for its impactful initiatives designed to benefit youths in Remoland. He praised the Remo Growth and Development Foundation for creating a platform that not only encouraged dialogue but also facilitated data collection for policymaking.
Chairman of the Remo Youth Association, Bidemi Solarin, urged governments at all levels to create opportunities for youths to excel in the agricultural sector. Solarin applauded Abiodun for establishing a ministry dedicated to youth development in the state.