LAGOS SENSITISES STAKEHOLDERS ON REBRANDED AGRICULTURAL SCHOLARS’ PROGRAMME
In a bid to encourage youths to develop their career path in the agricultural value chains as well as fill the vacuum being created by ageing farmers, the State Government, through the Lagos State School Agricultural Scholars’ Programme (LASP), has organised a sensitisation and capacity building programme for Agric Teachers, Desk Officers and Correctional Officers.
Speaking at the programme, the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, reiterated the State Government’s commitment to ensuring that students are exposed to modern agricultural skills and farming methods to empower them with sound practical knowledge of agriculture in order to complement the theoretical aspect being taught in the classrooms.
Olusanya, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Hakeem Adeniji, said that the renamed Lagos Agricultural Scholars’ Programme (LASP) had 158 Agricultural Projects, comprising of Poultry, Piggery, Aquaculture and Vegetable Productions established in 150 Public Secondary Schools, including Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCOPED), Noforija, Epe, and the Girls’ Correctional Centre, Idi Araba amongst others.
Her words: “We have obtained the approval of Mr. Governor to embark on new projects such as Snailery, Rabbitry, Grass Cutter and Goat Rearing Enterprise for sustainability under the programme. Consequently, we shall be establishing 32 projects, with 12 in Snailery, four in Rabbitry, two in Grass Cutter, four in Goat Rearing and 10 in Vegetable Production at Correctional Centres in Lagos State and selected Public Secondary Schools located within Education Districts I, II and VI. These Projects shall be implemented as Phase I in the early part of the Year 2022 being a carry-over from 2021”.
The Commissioner hinted that all the projects when established would be handed over to the schools and centres while the Ministries of Agriculture and Education will work together to carry out monthly monitoring and visits to the pre-existing and new project sites in order to ensure their sustainability.
Also speaking at the event, the Director of Agric Services in the Ministry, Mrs. Abiola Ayoade, mentioned that a Capacity Building/Training programme will kick off immediately after the sensitisation for Education District Agricultural Desk Officers, Agricultural Science Teachers and Correctional Centre Instructors.
She explained that the training will be a Train-the-Trainer programme whereby all participants are expected to cascade the information to Agricultural Science Students, other interested teachers and non-teaching staff in their respective Schools/Correctional Centres.
NS/TMS/OS
CAPTION:
PIX: L-R: Mr. Hassan Ogunfuyi from the Ministry of Education; Mrs. Rashidat Sanusi, representative of the Honourable Commissioner for Youth & Social Development; Mr. Hakeem Adeniji, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture; Mrs. Abiola Ayoade, Director, Agricultural Services and Mr. Bolaji Balogun, General Manager, Lagos Agricultural Inputs Supply Authority
