The Chief Executive Officer of Sammadecom, Mr Adebanjo Adetunji, a Small Medium Entrepreneur, says his group has empowered 1,000 youths in Plateau in fish farming between January and October.Adetunji said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Jos.
He said that the gesture of free empowerment is to make more youths self-employed and employers of labour and less dependent on white-collar jobs.
He said that empowerment and training were a means of giving back to society.
Adetunji said youths, mostly university students who were idle during the ASSU strike, came to them to be empowered in fish farming.
“The duration for the empowerment is usually between three and six months and the youths are paid stipends too.” he said.
The farmer said that “the business is highly lucrative and viable and that most youths are looking for lucrative businesses.
“The business is not highly capital intensive as with the sum of N50,000 any one could set up a fish farm”.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke with NAN said that fish farming business had an already market and very easy to manage.
Miss Faith Peters, a 200-Level student from the University of Jos, said that she wouldn’t go in search of white collar job after school.
“I am doing very well in this business and hope to become full time fish farmer after school,” said Peter.
Miss Joy Oguche, another student said she would establish a fish farm and continue the business after school.
Miss Stephanie Anono, a student who is also the receptionist, said that the exposure and experience from the farm had changed her perception completely.
Adetunji called on youths to avail themselves to learn a soft skill as it would help empower them and enable them to be self-sufficient.
