Olakiitan Victor in Ado Ekiti
As part of efforts to banish hunger in Ekiti State, a Non-governmental organisation, Knowledge and Courage Development Centre, is planning to provide food items to the needy at the grassroots level to complement the stomach infrastructure programme of Governor Ayodele Fayose’s government.
Also worried at the level of unemployment in the state, the centre intends to train over 10,000 jobless youths in various vocations to make them employers of labour and to reduce crimes in the state.
At a press parley in Ado Ekiti recently, the chief executive of the Centre, Kola Ajayi, said the centre is ever ready to partner the government of the day on all programmes and policies that would put food on the tables of the citizens.
“What I really found fascinating about stomach infrastructure is the fact that it deals with the poor and those at the grassroots and that is our scope. We are concerned about improving the standard of living of Nigerians and the best way to do this is to achieve food security.
Ajayi explained that crop farming would be a major course for all participants to boost food security and stimulate their interest in agriculture.
He disclosed that the youths will be trained in information and communication technology, engineering, systems security, events and public management, agriculture, arts and craft and environmental management.
Ajayi said Ekiti is being used as a pilot state for the project because research showed that about 10,000 Ekiti youths graduate from tertiary institutions every year while less than 500 of them get gainful employment.
He explained that the NGO is partnering the Ekiti State House of Assembly to source for beneficiaries in their wards and constituencies since the lawmakers are closer to the grassroots.
