Beneficiaries of Women in Agricultural Technical Education and Apprenticeship in Nigeria (WATEA) have been charged to make use of the benefits of the training positively.
The newly inaugurated Governing Council, led by its Chairman, Dr. Damilare Gideon Amusan whose two-day working visit to Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora coincided with the open day and closing ceremony of the WATEA Project gave the charge at the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora.
Speaking on behalf of the Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde, the Governing Council Chairman, opined that the programme has added value to OYSCATECH Students, while encouraging the beneficiaries to let the world see the positive reward of the WATEA training.
In his address, the Rector, Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora, Prof. Akinola Akinlabi appreciated the Oyo State Government for recommending the institution for the project.
Prof. Akinlabi also acknowledged the sponsor – French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) who monitored the exercise, the facilitators and supporting Staff for their immense contribution towards the successful execution of the WATEA programme.
“It is important for beneficiaries to apply the knowledge and skills that you have gained im order to develop yourselves, so that you will not be looking for white collar jobs. I encourage you to practice what you have learnt, share insights with your colleagues and continue to seek opportunities for development,” he said.
Prof. Akinlabi expressed the readiness of OYSCATECH for more robust collaboration with French Embassy, IITA and other organization as he pledged the institution’s commitment and support for further collaborations.
The WATEA Project Manager, Mrs. Zaina Sore commended facilitators, OYSCATECH and all partners who contributed towards the success of the project as she expressed hope for collaborations in the future.
In his contribution, the South West Liaison officer, Mr. Emmanuel Onasanya, while speaking on the empowerment of women through agricultural, technical and vocational education in Oyo State described it as crucial part of the economy.
He listed factors affecting women’s participation in agricultural Technical Education and Apprenticeship to include; education and language barriers, economic constraints, institution and structural gaps, market and security limitations and socio-cultural challenges.
Mr. Onasanya made a clarion call for investment in gender sensitive training, expansion in digital inclusion, improvement of access to finance and giving of support to community based mentorship programmes.
He called for collaborations between government, private sectors, civil society and development partners in order to create a supportive environment where women can thrive, while noting that when women are empowered through agricultural and Technical education; we build resilient families, stronger communities and a more prosperous state and nation.
Representing the SME’s, Dr. Adekunle Otunla encouraged the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora to explore the research opportunities in the WATEA training for documentation of its impact.
Speaking on behalf of the facilitators in OYSCATECH, Dr. Mutiu Mosobalaje revealed that the institution is well endowed with experienced trainers who have been impacting the youths positively, while appreciating the trainees for the opportunity add to their knowledge in agribusiness.
The Women in Agricultural Technical Education and Apprenticeship (WATEA) in Nigeria was a project sponsored by French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs and monitored by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).
The WATEA project sponsored the training of three thousand (3,000) young people in which 80% were women in three enterprises namely; poultry production, fisheries enterprise and cassava processing enterprise.
Six States in Nigeria, which inclue Oyo, Kwara, Enugu, Anambra, Kano and Jigawa were selected for the project. In Oyo State, the Iseyin Campus of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) and Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora carried out the training.
Earlier, heads of institutions and coordinator of Agribusiness in each of the six participating schools were sponsored to France between 10th and 17th December, 2024 on a study tour visits to prominent educational institutions, relevant government bodies, and agricultural enterprises in Paris and the southwest of France. The study tour included interactions with peers from the French Ministry of Agriculture and French Technical Colleges of Agriculture.
The training was flagged-off in September 30, 2024 at the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora, in all, three thousand (3,000) young people have been trained across the six participating States.
At Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora, a total of Five Hundred and Fifty six youths, mostly females were trained in three different enterprises.
For fisheries, One hundred and seventy-one (171), while One hundred and eighty five (185) were trained in poultry and two hundred in cassava enterprise. In Kwara State, seven hundred (700) were trained.
The aim of the Women in Agricultural and Technical Education and Apprenticeship in Nigeria (WATEA) include to promote the development of technical and professional skills of young women and directly align them with the needs of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the agri-food sector, support the growth of women-led agri-food businesses and fosters local and national entrepreneurial ecosystems in Nigeria, increase productivity and promote the highest environmental standards and sustainable agricultural practices as well as promotion of significant participation of young women in agribusiness and increasing the attractiveness of technical education in agriculture.
From the ideation stage in 2021 to its flagged-off and gradual implementation in September 2024 to July 2025, beneficiaries, facilitators and partners on the project have expressed appreciation to the French Government for the opportunity, as they revealed that the project has empowered new generation of young female agricultural technicians with needed skills in poultry, fisheries and cassava processing and has built bridges between schools and agribusinesses and equally unlocked potentials.
The open day/closing ceremony was well attended by HRM Olu of Igboora, Oba Jimoh Titiloye and HRM Olu Aso of Iberekodo, Oba Jamiu Adedamola Badmos including Governing Council members namely; Alhaji Salami Lateef Adebayo, Mr. Oseni Abolade Olosun, Dr. Adekunle Onile, Mr. Kareem Adesina Rashid, Dr. Saheed Adetunji Ige, Mr. Joseph Oladapo Olaoye and Mr. Babatunde Akeem and all the Principal Officers of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora.
E-signed;
Olawore, H. Opeyemi MNIPR
Public Relations Officer