Ekiti Targets 5,000 Youths for Poultry, Agribusiness Development

The Ekiti State Government says it has commenced a strategic initiative to engage 5,000 youths in poultry production and agribusiness as part of efforts to boost food security, create jobs and strengthen the agricultural value chain in the state.

The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Ebenezer Boluwade, disclosed this on Wednesday in Ado-Ekiti during a five-day capacity development programme on Good Animal Husbandry Practices under the Ekiti State Broiler Production Scheme.

Boluwade said the programme was designed to equip participants with technical skills and agribusiness knowledge needed to thrive in modern poultry production.

He said the initiative, being implemented in collaboration with the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project, was aimed at increasing youth participation in commercial poultry production.

According to him, the programme aligns with the state government’s long-term vision of transforming agriculture from subsistence farming to a structured and market-driven enterprise.

The commissioner revealed that the state was also advancing plans to deploy poultry infrastructure with a cumulative capacity of 300,000 birds under the L-PRES framework.

He said the investment would significantly expand production capacity, ensure steady supply and strengthen market linkages across the poultry value chain.

Boluwade reiterated the government’s commitment to building a competitive agro-allied sector, noting that the strategy covered production, processing, value addition and market integration.

“Our priority is to institutionalise a full-spectrum agribusiness model that integrates production, processing and commercialisation while positioning youths as key drivers of agricultural transformation in the state,” he said.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Babatope Ojo, represented by the Director of Administration and Supplies, Mr Bunmi Oluwalana, described capacity building as critical to sustainable livestock development.

He urged participants to apply the knowledge gained during the training to improve productivity and profitability.

Also speaking, the State Project Coordinator for L-PRES, Mr Olayinka Adedipe, said the programme formed part of broader efforts to strengthen livestock systems through infrastructure development and human capital investment.

Some participants, including Mrs Yemi Abosede and Mr Oluwaseun Osho, described the training as timely and impactful.

They said the knowledge acquired would help expand their businesses and contribute to the growth of the state’s agricultural sector.