By Opeyemi Olawore
The much awaited Women in Agricultural Technical Education and Apprenticeship in Nigeria (WATEA) training has been flagged-off at the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora on Thursday, September 19, 2024.
The flagged-off which was jointly performed by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Salihu Abdulwaheed Adelabu and the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye, ably represented by the Director, Higher and Continuing Education Mr. Sola Adewale and Director Agricultural Extension Services, Mr. Rasaq Moruff Alabi had both past and present management of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora in attendance.
The Management include; Rector, Prof. Akinola Akinlabi, Deputy Rector, Dr, Taiwo Akinyemi, Registrar, Mr. R.F.A. Adeniji, Bursar, Mr. Modupe Ogundapo, Director of Works and Services, Engr. Salaam Dauda Adeniran, Acting Polytechnic Librarian Mr. Rasak Oyewo and Olajire Gbadamosi, the Secretary to Management.
The past Management who were in attendance include; Prof. Gbemiga Adewale former Rector, Mr. Isiaka Adekunle, former acting Rector, Dr. Ariyo Okunlola, former Deputy Rector and Dr. Sarafa Agbogun, immediate past Bursar.
In their address, the commissioners commended the French Government for bringing the WATEA training to Nigeria for Women empowerment and advancement.
Prof. Adelabu maintained that Oyo State as pacesetter is recording another milestone achievement through the WATEA training.
They called on the participants to take advantage of the opportunity by increasing their knowledge for self-reliance in their respective enterprises.
The Rector, Prof. Akinlabi hinted that Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora is among the six technical schools selected in Nigeria for the training of 3,000 women on the WATEA project.
The Rector explained that 500 participants will be trained in three Agribusiness enterprises namely; Poultry, Fishery and Cassava value chain under the WATEA project, while 80 percent are women and 20 percent men.
He mentioned that the participants are expected to participate in apprenticeship after the training.
Prof. Akinlabi revealed that the training will commence on Monday, September 30, 2024 while the 500 participants have been divided into two groups of 300 and 200.
The first 300 will begin the training in September 30, 2024, while the second group will commence their training one week after the commencement of the first group.
The South West Liaison Officer for WATEA from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dr. Emmanuel Onasanya explained that the WATEA training has been extended to the College of Agriculture and Renewable Energy, Campus of LAUTECH in Iseyin.
Dr. Onasanya noted that 500 Women from the Iseyin Campus of LAUTECH will also benefit from the WATEA training, while the flag-off for Iseyin Campus of LAUTECH will come up very soon.
The Registrar, Mr. R.F.A Adeniji in his vote of thanks, appreciated the Oyo State Government, the Hon. Commissioners, the Ministry Officials, IITA delegates and past Managements for their commitment to the advancement of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora and youth development in Nigeria.
The WATEA training is geared towards the development of technical and professional skills of young women and directly aligning them with the needs of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the agri-food sector in order to increase productivity and promote the highest environmental standards and sustainable agricultural practices and support the growth of women-led agri-food businesses and fosters local and national entrepreneurial ecosystems in Nigeria.