VICTORIA OLUWASEUN: ONE LADY THAT STRIVES TO REDUCE POVERTY IN IBOKUN USING JUST A ONE DAY SEMINAR

Victoria Oluwaseun is an enterpreneur with a difference. She is the CEO of Victroo Ventures an agro allied bussiness concern which much interest on animal feed ventures.

On Tuesday the 18th of April, 2017 Victoria Oluwaseun single handedly organized a One-Day Seminar entitled One Community, One Industry Initiatives; A Day Seminar on Agriculture And You at Ajayi Memorial Hall, Ibokun. Oba Festus Awogboro, the Alademure of Ibokun was the royal father of the day.

 The seminar featured talks from agricultural experts and finacial institution. She remarked at the occassion that she actually planned to cater for one hundred persons but about three hundred interested farmers and youth turned up for the seminar.

The objective of the seminar is to sustainably increase the incomes of the of farmers and those interested in farming in Ibokun the community that raised her. She tried using the project to make a tremendous incursion in the rural areas and enhance the productivity and well being of farmers of this community through skills and capacity-building to improve their livelihoods by increasing income generating activities.

The project takes the Community Driven Development (CDD) approach, which places beneficiaries in the driver’s seat.

Dr. Adedeji O. Ojo, the president of Osun chapter of Nigeria Poultry Association talked on "setting up a poultry farm. According to him there is no formal education required for becoming a poultry farmer, but there is a lot to learn before jumping into the role. He pointed out that poultry farmers typically raise one single type of poultry, (either chickens, turkeys, geese or ducks) but the most popular remain raising chicks for meat or their eggs. He delved fully into broilers and layers poultry farming. Once the type of poultry is determined that you would like to try your hand at, you need to get a job working on that type of farm, as the best way to train for this career is by learning the trade from experienced farmers. This will give an idea of what is involved in the work and how the lifecycle of the bird works. He also talked extensively on piggery farming.

Alhaj Rauf Akuruyejo a cucumber farmer also delivered a talk on Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Cucumbers an easy-care vegetable that loves Sun and water. He pointed out that cucumbers grow successfully in this part of the country as long as they receive consistent watering. Most varieties will grow in any amount of space, because of the plant’s ability to climb and cucumbers farmers can start picking from their farming as from forty-five days after planting.

The high point of this seminar is the talk delivered by Mr. Femi A. Anwo, the communication officer from Osun state office of FADAMA. He extensively exposed the FADAMA innitiatives on massive production of cassava and local rice stemming from the formation of active farmer-based organizations. Interested farmers are to form cooperative societies of ten members and must be able to acquire twenty-five acres of land at least. With this they will be able to invite FADAMA participation on a 50-50 participation arrangement that falls under the Community Associations (FCAs) and Fadama User Groups (FUGs) that will oversee the design and implementation of the project.

To match words to actions, the Obokun MicroFinance Bank Limited, Ibokun, C. E. O, Mr Edward Ajayi , (he and few Ibokun indigines own the bank ) gave a talk to educate farmers on the bank's loan acquisition process and that his institution has set aside 50 million Naira to give out to groups in support of FADAMA participation. This means that the micro finance group shall provide 50% of the total cost of the project while FADAMA provide the remaining 50%.

Certificates of participation were given out to participants at the end of the one day seminar.