By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Oyo State Commissioner for Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development, Prince Oyewole Oyewumi has disclosed that the present administration in the state places priority on food security, poverty reduction among its people.
Prince Oyewumi said this while speaking at the flag-off an intensive training package for over 4,472 rural dwellers through the State Rural Finance Institution-Building (RUFIN) in nine Local Government Areas in the state held at Ikoyile, Oriire Local Government Area of the state
The Commissioner who was repeesented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Victor Atilola added that the state government is also committed to creation of employment through its various agricultural policies and programmes which have enabled a favorable environment for investors.
He maintained that the 2-Day training ” is meant to support, empower and consolidate group cohesion dynamics as well as management of rural financing.”
adding that the training would enable the rural dwellers to become credit worthy groups, noting that after the training, they will be linked with financial institutions for loan accessibility by RUFIN.
The Commissioner pointed out that
RUFIN will not give loan facilities directly to the participants rather link them up with the financial institutions with lower interest rates after meeting the necessary requirements, stating that the Group Dynamics play a fundamental role in group functionality.
Oyo state RUFIN programme Coordinator, Comrade Olusola Ogundiran while speaking declared that participants were divided into groups to allow for monitoring and connections with financial institutions and that the programme was not focused on farmers alone but also rural dwellers to reduce poverty in rural areas, adding that the groups will be trained across 9 Local Governments including Ikoyi-Oriire, Ona-Ara, Oluyole, Ibarapa North, Iwerele in Iwajowa, Afijio, Jobele, Akinyele, Atisbo and Ibarapa East Local Government Areas.
In their separate remarks, the Caretaker Chairman, Oriire Local Government, Hon. Odekanmi Oluyinka, who was represented by the Secretary of the Council, Prince Toyin Kolawole and the Head of Local Government Administration, Alh. Bayo Raji, appreciated the government of Senator Abiola Ajimobi for encouraging farming as well as initiating programmes to better the lives of rural dwellers, saying these have reduced rural-urban migration.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, Mr. Olusoji Adedokun, commended the State Government and promised that they will be credit worthy ambassadors.
