The problem of youth unemployment across the country has become a nightmare, not only to members of the general public but to the government at all levels as well.

There is no gain saying the fact that the much sought after white collar jobs are no longer available, but much energy is still been dissipated on how the government can provide job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths in the country.

There have been calls on the government and other stakeholders in the nation's education sector to redesign the school curriculum, especially at the secondary and tertiary levels in such a way that the nation’s institutions would be turning out graduates who are job creators as against the present system which only produce job seekers.

However, in Kwara state, the successive government, in realisation of the fact that white collar jobs are no longer available, had mapped out measures to engage the youths without necessarily having to pass through tertiary institutions.

One of such measures was the establishment of the youth integrated training farm centre, Malete, in the northern axis of the state. The centre which was pioneered by a white Zimbabwean farmer, was established primarily to train youths on farm techniques which could at the end of the completion of their training turn them to big time commercial farmers.

The centre which was established in August, 2005 by the administration of the former governor of the state, Dr Bukola Saraki has turned out a total of 499 trained farmers.

About a fortnight ago, the centre graduated the fifth batch of its trainees. A total of 93 participants graduated at a colourful ceremony held at the farm centre, Malete.

In 2005, the state government acquired the old Kwara Agricultural Development Programme (KWADAP) farm centre in Malete for the take off of the programme with 100 trainees who spent two years on the training farm.

Before their graduation in 2007, the state government had prepared three farm settlements in Oke-Oyi, Alateko and Aiyekale for the graduates where over 700 hectares of land was cleared for their use.

The centre is expected to bring about economic empowerment for youths in the state, to train them in modern farming methods, improve their lives and livelihood and generate a successor of commercial farmers driven with the mind-set of profitability. Similarly, it is to develop agricultural entrepreneurs to create job and wealth.

In order to ensure these objectives were met, the youth farm centre was designed to facilitate a self sustaining youth farm with potentials for Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for profit, production and administrative overheads. In the same vein, it is to provide the trainees with accommodation and facilities to enable them carry out their training with ease, offer a curriculum on an 80/20 practical and theory blend that is specifically designed to provide the students with the basic knowledge and skills to be successful commercial farmers, using relatively modern agriculture production techniques.

The centre has over the years, sold over 800 tones of maize, 120 tones of cow pea, 600 tones of cassava, 30 tones of rice and 400 tones of Soya beans through the ministry of Agriculture and Natural resources and directly to the public, thus contributing to food security in the state.

It has equally contributed to community development by assisting local farmers to improve their yields by getting them involved in farming activities in collaboration with the centre for community development of the Kwara State University, also in Malete.

Determined to sustain the legacy of his predecessor, the state governor, Alhaji Abdul Fatah Ahmed has been supporting the institute with all necessary incentives that would aid effective teaching and learning process.

Speaking at the fifth graduation ceremony of the centre, Ahmed reiterated his administration's commitment and dedication to improving the state agricultural sector, saying that youths would continue to be encouraged in that regard.

Represented by the Secretary to the state government (SSG), Alhaji Isiaka Gold, the governor noted that if the youths are supported and properly sensitised on agriculture, they would be better for it.

The governor commended the foresight efforts of his predecessor, Dr. Bukola Saraki which culminated in the establishment of the youths farm training institute at Malete.

He stressed that for economy of any nation to be developed, there is the need for successive administrations to show much enthusiasm on how to develop the sector.

In his remarks, the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Agriculture, Alhaji Mahmud Ajeigbe commended the governor for his vision and efforts at sustaining the vision.

He said, in 2013, Governor Ahmed approved a revised curriculum for the farm which would further improve the quality of training at the centre.

Ajeigbe disclosed that the state government has implemented several capital projects in the centre over the last two years, adding that it has also supported the farm with the upgrade and rehabilitation of major infrastructure.