APPEALS Project begins training for PWD–SN, under WYEP schedule in Kogi »

• As Each Beneficiary Gets 2 Million Naira Support Package

Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, represented by his Deputy, Chief (Dr.) Edward Onoja, has declared open, a One-Week Training of 102 People Living with Disabilities and Special Needs (PWD-SN) under the Women and Youth Empowerment Programme (WYEP) of the Agro Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support– APPEALS Project.

The training which ends August 1 was organised by the State Coordination Office of the Project, holding at the Ahmadu Bello University College of Agriculture, Kabba, Kogi State, on Tuesday.

Remarking, Chief Onoja who is Chairman, State steering committee of the Kogi Appeals, reinforced the commitment of the Alhaji Yahaya Bello’s New Direction to reposition the agricultural sector with support policy thrusts on food security, local production, job creation and economic diversification with special dedication to Special People.

He disclosed that the Governor, through the State Ministry of Agriculture, is meeting up with stipulated conditions of the World Bank on improved productivity along priority value chains of cashew, cassava, and rice, with even greater growth on other areas like maize, cocoa, tomatoes, wheat, ginger, livestock, poultry, and aquaculture.

He advised the beneficiaries to approach the training process with all seriousness to pave way for sustainability in line with the schedule of the World Bank, revealing that Kogi State takes the lead on the Project in the North Central Region, breaking newer grounds as other participating states of Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, and Cross River.

He congratulated the participants, stating the readiness of government to support them in their choices of businesses, recognizing their abilities, and not their disabilities.

On his part, State Project Coordinator, Dr. Sanni Abdullahi Ozomata said the training was in persuance to Governor Bello’s all-inclusive administrative policy, noting that the beneficiaries have been duly certified by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to float legal businesses and will access their two million naira funding packages per beneficiary, in the coming days.

Also in attendance at the event were the State Deputy Chief of Staff, Hon. Sunday Faleke, MD, Kogi State Agricultural Development Project, Mr. Bello Ogrima, Provost, Ahmadu Bello University College of Agriculture, Kabba, Ass. Prof. Roseline Olobatoke, and other top APPEALS and government officials.