An agricultural stakeholder, Engineer Charles Okoro, has advised the Rivers State Government not to politicise the Youth Agricultural Business Training Programme, warning that doing so could undermine its objectives.
Recall that the Rivers State Government has announced plans to commence a comprehensive Youth Agribusiness Training Programme for indigenes of the state from January 19 to 29, 2026.
According to a statement by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Engineer Victor Kii, the programme is designed to equip Rivers youths with passion and interest in agriculture with practical skills, modern agricultural knowledge, and entrepreneurial capacity across various agricultural value chains.
Speaking with Greenland Reporters, Engineer Okoro commended the state government for initiating the programme but cautioned that its success would depend on transparency and professionalism.
“It is a very good initiative. I’m glad that the governor and the ministry are listening to the needs of the people. Agriculture remains one of the strongest solutions to insecurity,” he said.
Okoro stressed that the programme must not be used as an avenue to reward political loyalists, insisting that only qualified technocrats should be engaged to implement it.
“If the governor and the Ministry of Agriculture have identified youths who can turn around the internally generated revenue of the state through agriculture, then investing in their training is the right thing to do,” he added.
The agricultural stakeholder warned against turning the training into a political settlement scheme, noting that it should be aimed at genuinely impacting the lives of Rivers State youths.
He further advised the government to ensure that the best technocrats are engaged to train the participants and that the programme delivers measurable results.
“If it is done properly, it will be a legacy for Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Just like today, you cannot talk about Songhai Farm without mentioning Rotimi Amaechi, who had passion for agricultural business in the state,” Okoro said.
He added that such an initiative could help get youths off the streets and enable unemployed youths to become self-employed through agriculture.
Engineer Okoro also advocated for post-training mentorship, stressing that training alone is not sufficient.
“One thing is training, another thing is mentorship. After the training, the government should follow up to ensure that what they were trained on is actually being practised,” he said.
He further called on the state government to provide access to funding for the trained youths, warning that training without funding would amount to a waste of time. According to him, the government should partner with credible organisations willing to support youths in starting their agribusiness ventures.
However, Okoro cautioned against giving cash directly to beneficiaries, describing it as potentially counterproductive.
“With the kind of youths we have now, if you give them cash, some may divert it to unproductive ventures like betting,” he said.
He instead recommended an input-based funding approach, where suppliers provide farming inputs and monitor their usage to ensure accountability and productivity.
The Youth Agribusiness Training Programme, which will also promote innovation, value addition, and market-driven agricultural enterprises, is scheduled to hold from Monday, January 19 to Wednesday, January 29, 2026, at 12 noon daily, at the School-to-Land Authority, Rumuodomaya Centre of Excellence, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area.
Interested persons are advised to contact the Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture or call +234 814 263 1325 for further information.
