Nigeria Ex-Militants To Study Agricultural Technology In Israel

Eighty-two youths from the Niger Delta area in Nigeria departed for Israel and the Philippines under the Post Amnesty Reintegration Program for vocational training in agriculture, pipeline and under-water welding. The Nigerian government is hoping the participants will return to Nigeria with much-needed expertise.

Thirty two of the youths, who are ex-militants, were sent to the Galilee Institute in Israel, for a six months vocational program. They will attend a comprehensive course on agricultural skills, learning how to start agricultural farms and agricultural businesses.

Speaking at a pre-departure ceremony in Lagos, special adviser to the President on Niger Delta matters, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, urged the ex-militants to utilize the opportunity offered by government “to enhance their capacity for the development of the Niger Delta region.”

He explained that the acquisition of agricultural technology training by the youths will assist government to boost food sufficiency, as the available technology in Israel in food production “is key to Nigeria’s drive to achieve food sufficiency.”

He said while they are undergoing training in their different vocation centers, the Federal Government and the office of the amnesty program would work hard to ensure that most of them were provided with jobs as soon as they return to the country:

“The Post Amnesty office in conjunction with the Federal Government shall work hard to ensure that enough jobs that would absorb you would be made available as soon as you complete your training and return into the country. But this is attached to the conditions that you would be of good behaviors in your places of training, “he said.

Managing Director of ONIDA Development Ltd, Kidron Israel, one of the trainers, said Israel was a long way ahead of Nigeria in terms of agricultural development and the skill acquired at the Galilee Institute, would put the delegates on the pedestal to improve agriculture in Nigeria.

Photo by jean-louis zimmermann