By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
Bauchi State Government has presented a total amount N625m as starter packs for 1250 youths who graduated from the Agricultural Skills Development Programme.
The programme was a two-week training conducted by the International Skills Acquisition Centre (ISAC) at the CSS Farms Gora, Nassarawa State.
The beneficiaries were taught different farming methods including Fisheries, poultry, livestock breeding, production of vital feeds and crops farming.
Announcing the package on Tuesday in Bununu, headquarters of Tafawa Balewa LGA, Bauchi State Governor, Sen Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed announced that each of the beneficiaries is to receive the sum of N500,000 to set up the business.
He said that, “You will recall that in 2021, this administration supported 1,000 youths and women from across the 20 local government areas of the state to the International Skill Acquisition Center of CSR Farms with intensive practical training in crops production, livestock production, aquaculture, poultry, greenhouse technology, agribusiness management, value addition, and enterprise.”
He added that, “The government fully funded the program, including tuition, transportation, accommodation, meals, and other training expenses, because we wanted participants to acquire not only knowledge but also practical training required to become successful entrepreneurs.”
Bala Mohammed added that, “Upon completion of the programme, each participant received a startup pack valued at about N450,000 to establish their agribusiness. Today, we are proud of the remarkable outcomes of that initiative. Many beneficiaries have established successful poultry, fishery, crops production enterprises, while others have ventured into processing and value addition, in addition to practical farming.”
According to him,”Several of them have become employers of labor and role models within their communities, demonstrating that agriculture remains a viable pathway to wealth creation and prosperity. And most importantly, this initiative has reduced unemployment and given hope to our youths, both men and women, that the future is bright and they can actualize their own in-built potentials to become what they want to become in the future.”
The Governor added that,
“Encouraged by these achievements, the government expanded the programme in 2025 to provide another 1,250 youths and women from across the state to undergo similar practical agricultural and agribusiness training.”
“And I am delighted to announce today the commencement of payment of startup grants of N500,000 to these 1,250 beneficiaries. All the people that are here must get their money as directed to the Ministry of Agriculture because it is not cash, at least it is cheque they are going to collect both without being molested. Nobody should leave this place after nice time without collecting his or her check,” he added.
He stressed that,”This intervention is not an act of charity. It is an investment in productivity, enterprise, employment generation, and the future prosperity of our state. And the beneficiaries, I congratulate you. You have been given a valuable opportunity. I urge you to invest these resources wisely to establish sustainable enterprises, create employment opportunities for your friends and your community, contribute meaningfully to food security and economic development of the state and that of the federal government.”
The Governor then warned that nobody should use the money for the purposes other than the ones designated in order to ensure that the set objectives were met.
According to him,”You must not use the money to Mary wives, that is not the purpose, the Ministry of Agriculture is hereby directed to closely monitor the utilization of the money. Anyone who does anything different should be sanctioned.”
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke, commended the State Government for the gesture saying that it has given them the opportunity to be employement creators and self-reliant.
Yusuf Alkasim who undertook the training in Fisheries said that he had already established fish ponds in his family compound and will use the amount granted to expand the farm and employ more youths who will serve in the farms.
In the same vein, Mustapha Abdullahi who graduated in vital feeds production assured that he will use the money to establish a factory where vital feeds will be produced for sale to the people.
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