THE CERTIFIED INSTITUTE of Cooperatives and Social Enterprise, CICOSEMA, has empowered over a hundred registered participants at its ongoing three-day Free Training on “How to Plant Where There Are No Agricultural Land”, otherwise known as Urban Farming.
Welcoming the participants to the three-day events which was held physically at the National Secretariat of the Institute in Osogbo and via the Internet, the President and Chairman of Governing Council of CICOSEMA, Prof. Kehinde Olusegun, DFCS, said the Institute decided to organize the free training as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility to take the youths “out of hopelessness and give them direction and help the retiring citizens have a hope of having a continuous working existence while contributing to the Food Security programme of the state by ensuring prices of foodstuff are brought to the reach of many Nigerians”.
The three-day training equipped participants with adequate knowledge on how to manage the volatility of the weather and stabilize the growth of seeds and seedlings planted using best practices.
Participants were taught how to plant yams, Sweet Potatoes and Irish Potatoes, in sacks and woods. Those who attended physically were given hands-on experiences as they were taken through practical processes and were allowed to plant the yams and potatoes to gain experiences they can later replicate at their respective houses.
Prof. Olusegun pointed out that it was disheartening that the “average age of participants could be put at 50. I was expecting to see younger people. Instead of them roaming about clamouring that there are no jobs, they could take this up.
“I congratulate those of you that found your way here; I ask you to seize this opportunity and practice what you have been taught.
“We will empower you, but we will not empower individuals. As part of the criteria, you need to introduce three other people to benefit from the “Free Training.” These people will form the nucleus of your cooperatives. It is these cooperatives that we will empower.
“We are working with some agencies of government, and some of them have promised to give us seedlings and seeds. These would be given to your cooperative societies.
“Also, to further encourage you, we are instituting a competition for the physical and online participants. Though the prizes are not too big, the first person will take home N100,000; the second will go home with N75,000, and the third will get N50,000.
“What you need to do is start your planting; call us, and our Programme Officers and Extension Officers will visit you to see what you are doing. For online people, let us know when you want to plant; do a live video, and once in a while, you will show us the progress via live video and also when you want to harvest.
“The judge will be all of us on the platform. I wish you all the best.”
Some of the participants express their joy and gratitude to the organisers. Speaking on behalf of the participants, Mrs. Kofoworade Nuga said, “This is an eye opener to me. I thank you immensely for this opportunity, and I pray that the Lord will replenish your pockets for all these expenses you have incurred on the programme. We will make you proud by practicing what you have taught us.”
Mr. Okelola Olalekan Samuel remarked, “The training has blessed my life and has served as an eye opener as far as my ambition is concerned. Kudos to the organisers, especially CICOSEMA.”
Mr. Ajao Adeleke Omolaja stated, “I appreciate the hands-on approach and the opportunity to ask questions. It really helped reinforce the material. I learnt valuable skills that I can apply immediately”.
Abolayo Abdulafis Mosope said, “The training was well organised. It also gave me an insight and deep understanding about farming, especially how to plant yams, sweet potatoes, and Irish potatoes with or without much land.”
Mrs. Ene Toyosi said, “It’s been quite an insightful and highly educative session. Thank you so much for the knowledge that has been impacted in these areas. Thank you, God bless The Institute.”
Adedokun Oluwatosin Itunu commented, “It is a very good programme. I really enjoyed and learnt a lot. A big thank you to all the anchors and organisers, may your efforts never be in vain.”
Mrs. Moyinoluwa Alabi was full of praises: “Wow, this is awesome, and it is a good help to humanity. Personally, I enjoy the training and pray that God continues to help the organisers to do more. Please, I will appreciate the monitoring aspects.”
Mr. Adesina Sijuwade Johnson said, a training like this should be taken to the offices and organisations to encourage all to engage in farming, be it small or big. The government should make it a policy. A very eye-opener for all elites.
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