Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL)and International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan, had concluded arrangement to train 40 youths from the Niger Delta region in agriculture.
Mr Deji Haastrup, General Manager, Government and Public Affairs of Chevron, disclosed this on Thursday in Warri at an event to kick-start the programme.
Haastrup said that the youths would be trained on aquaculture, cassava, plantain, banana production and processing.
He said the programme tagged ‘’Agropreneurship’’ would offer an opportunity for large scale employment leading to self-reliance.
”The pilot programme incorporates young people from the Egbema-Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation and the Itsekiri Regional Development Committee.
”Other parties that are collaborating with CNL and IITA are the Delta Government and the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND),” he said.
Haastrup said the current programme would gulp about N188million.
He said that CNL would continue to support the people of Niger Delta with a view to making life meaningful for them.
Mrs Clementina Arubi, representative of the General Manager, NNPC-NAPIMS, stressed the need for economic diversification through other ventures, especially agriculture rather than over-dependence on oil.
Also, Mr Michael Johnny, Chairman Egbema-Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation, in his remarks, commend the effort of the parties that organised the agricultural programme.
He, however, solicited for scholarship for the people as part of the initiatives to widen their horizon.