Korede Abdullah 
UGHELLI, Nigeria – The Delta State Government has launched a three-day Wealth Creation Training Programme aimed at equipping 1,000 young people with practical agribusiness skills to promote entrepreneurship and economic empowerment.
Declaring the programme open on Tuesday in Ughelli, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Val Arenyeka, described agriculture as a major pathway to wealth creation, employment and sustainable economic development.
He urged participants to embrace farming as a profitable enterprise rather than merely a subsistence activity.
“Farming should no longer be regarded merely as a subsistence activity but as a lucrative business capable of creating wealth and transforming livelihoods,” he said.
Arenyeka said Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration is investing in agriculture to encourage self-reliance among young people and reduce dependence on government employment.
He noted that Delta’s fertile land and favourable climate provide significant opportunities for commercial agriculture.
The commissioner explained that the programme’s first phase focuses on cocoa, coffee, cotton and ginger production, with plans to expand to additional value chains in subsequent phases.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture and programme coordinator, George Oyefia, encouraged participants to maximise the opportunity while showcasing modern farming equipment, including a mini tractor and chaff cutter, for practical demonstrations.
Oyefia also announced that participants would receive agricultural inputs, including 10,000 cocoa seedlings, 100,000 cotton seedlings, 5,000 coffee seedlings and 5,000 ginger seedlings, to support commercial production.
Programme facilitator Israel Yusuf, popularly known as Dr Fish, said the selected crops enjoy strong export demand and significant income potential.
He added that the training focuses on value addition, market access and agribusiness investment as part of efforts to tackle unemployment, poverty and youth-related social challenges.
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