THAT the Delta State Government’s job creation programme has taken thousands of Deltan youths off the streets by training and establishing them in vocational and agricultural enterprises of their choice is stating the obvious.
Testimonies abound of their business successes across the state.
One of such testifiers is YAGEPreneur Ezekiel Eromedoghene, the CEO of Ezekiel-Voh Agro Ventures.
He enrolled into the Youth Agricultural and Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP) as a graduate of Agricultural Extension and Management from the Delta State University, Abraka (DELSU.)
Ezekiel is a goal-getter, focused and an ambitious entrepreneur.
From his initial establishment package, he has grown his business within four years.
From the proceeds from his farm, he is fulfilling his dream. He now holds an M.Sc. Certificate in Agricultural Extension and is currently studying for a Ph.D. in same discipline in DELSU.
To crown it all, he is married to a YAGEPreneur, Blessing, and their union is blessed with children.
In an interview, he said, “Through YAGEP, I have obtained M.Sc. in Agricultural Extension and my Ph.D. is in-view as a result of the opportunity and benefits gained from the programme.
I decided to dedicate my resources to write a thesis and to research on YAGEP in order to sell the programme across the globe.
At present, I own 7,500 fish in five tarpaulin fish tanks measuring 15×20 feet, having relocated from Anwai Fish Farm Cluster to a private land.
I also make furniture to augment my income.
YAGEP turned my life around. Having graduated since 2012, I was unemployed till God used Governor Okowa to change my story to a testimony. I am here to testify because if I am to convert my starter pack to cash, it would have cost me ₦1.5m.
When my set suffered from flood after establishment, Governor Okowa re-established us with the same quantity and quality of starter packs.
I now live and pay house rent in Asaba because of YAGEP. I am able to take good care of myself and my family too.
Interestingly, YAGEP gave me a wife, a YAGEPreneur in Crop Production.”
By Gertrude Onyekachukwu-Uteh
