The Ondo State Government has launched a major poultry farming initiative aimed at empowering young people and boosting food production across the state’s three senatorial districts. The scheme, known as Adiye Irorun, was unveiled with 12,000 day-old chicks at the Ondo State Agribusiness Empowerment Centre, Isuada in Owo Local Government Area on November 13. The programme is designed to train youths to become self-reliant poultry farmers while strengthening food security, agribusiness growth and income generation.
During the unveiling, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Agribusiness, Mr Rotimi Akinsola, described the project as the beginning of a new, business-focused approach to youth empowerment. He said the initiative is structured to help participants gain practical experience in poultry management while learning how to run sustainable agribusinesses. According to him, the state is committed to building a new generation of young entrepreneurs who can support protein production and contribute to economic development.
“We’re starting here in the Northern Senatorial District, and from here, we will replicate the programme in the other two districts. The goal is to train, empower and make Ondo State protein-sufficient while creating business opportunities for our youths,” he said. Akinsola explained that the distribution of day-old chicks will be carried out through lead farmers and trainees within the centre, where participants will undergo six to eight weeks of hands-on training and mentorship. He emphasised that the programme is designed not as a giveaway but as a structured business model.
“We are training them to make money, to save and to reinvest. Nobody will take chicks home for free. Every participant must learn the trade, make profit and grow from there,” he noted. Akinsola added that the programme operates in phases, beginning with training, mentorship and supervised poultry management. After completion, participants will receive support to establish their own poultry ventures.
“If we have 10 trainees under one experienced farmer, and even six of them decide to continue, that will be great; that’s how we build a new generation of poultry entrepreneurs, the empowerment comes through knowledge, discipline and business mindset,” he explained. He said the plan is to empower thousands of young people as the project expands across the districts. “We are starting with thousands of youths across the three districts. It’s a process we train, they learn, they earn and they grow. It’s not a one-off giveaway. The governor has made it clear, this must be business-driven and sustainable.”
Akinsola also confirmed that trainees will receive stipends during the programme. Proceeds from the sale of mature birds will be shared among participants as net profit to help them launch their own poultry operations.
The Director of Livestock Production at the Ondo State Agribusiness Empowerment Centre (OSAEC), Mr James Akinbuwa, described the programme as a six-week rolling plan that guarantees continuity and profitability. “It takes six weeks to grow the day-old chicks to marketable size, averaging over two kilograms; we already have a ready market for them. Amo Farms, our partner, supplies the chicks and also serves as the offtaker. So, before production starts, the market is already secured,” he said. Akinbuwa stressed that the programme aims to support unemployed youths and vulnerable women by helping them earn stable income.
“This project targets unemployed youths and vulnerable women. It will move thousands out of joblessness into something productive, at the end of every six-week cycle, participants will share net profit. That money can serve as capital to start their own poultry ventures,” he said. He assured that logistics and feed supply have been fully arranged for the smooth running of the programme. “The feed is available, everything is ready; in coming weeks, we’ll move to the Southern Senatorial District in Ore for the next round of training, and after that to the Central District. Everything will run simultaneously to achieve maximum impact across the state.”
Akinbuwa commended Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa for prioritising agricultural development, describing the initiative as timely. “This is one of the most practical empowerment programmes ever introduced in Ondo State. It combines training, production and profit-sharing, Mr. Governor deserves commendation for this initiative,” he said.
Recall that theoretical training for participants was conducted three weeks earlier at the Ondo State Agribusiness Empowerment Centre in Isuada.
