December 05, (THEWILL) – TotalEnergies, one of the oil giants in Nigeria and its senior partner, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, have empowered 20 youths in Cross River State, on agro entrepreneurship.
The six weeks empowerment training centred on post-harvest management of agricultural produce from primary production to processing and marketing.
Other partners in the training programme for youths in the state include SAPETRO, CNOOC and PRIME 130.
The major objective of the training is to ensure Cross River youths learn, grow and become financially independent in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on poverty, zero hunger and decent work/ economic growth.
Mike Sangster, Country Chair/Managing Director, TotalEnergies Upstream Nigeria Limited, said the training is aimed at helping trainees add value to the agricultural value chain.
The Country Chair, who spoke through Lolade Temitope Ogungbe, the CSR Officer, said the trainees underwent six weeks of training and have been empowered with a starter pack.
“TotalEnergies launched the agro-business support programme to help beneficiaries learn how to add value to the agricultural value chain through processing, packaging and distribution of farm produce in order to reduce losses and wastages caused by the paucity of reliable means of preservation.
“The beneficiaries undergo six weeks of training in business of processing and distribution of farm produce, after which they are empowered with starter packs to help them launch their businesses quickly.
“Today’s graduating beneficiaries have acquired the knowledge necessary to properly package their goods, marketing, book-keeping, maintaining stock records and fund administration”, he said.
Speaking further, he said they are confident the programme is indeed a step in the right direction, as they continue their commitment to addressing the challenge of unemployment and poverty in the society.
He also reaffirmed the commitment of TotalEnergies in helping to actualise the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Also speaking, Bala Wunti, Chief Upstream Investment Officer, Nigeria Upstream Investment Management Services, NUIMS, thanked all the partners for the training programme.
Wunti, who spoke through Anthony Francis, Community Relations Officer, NUIMS, implored the beneficiaries to take advantage of the training and further develop themselves.
Precious Eta, one of the beneficiaries, said the experience was wonderful and they learnt a lot.
She said the training included sustainable agriculture, entrepreneurship, how to expand a business, as well as how to deploy ICT in agro-businesses.
Over 430 applicants applied for the programme with 20 emerging successful.
In addition to the starter packs, the graduands also received a certificate of appreciation and had a company registered for them to kick off their businesses.
THEWILL Correspondent, Aniekan Bassey has over six years experience that spans across several fields in print journalism including development communication, sexual reproductive and health rights issues, crime, climate change, social justice, business and human interest stories.
