YAGEP Made Me Gainfully Employed, Married- Says Ekene ~ Truth Reporters

By Gertrude Onyekachukwu-Uteh

GOLD EKENE is our YAGEPreneur for this week. He hails from Ndokwa East Local Governmnet Area and has an HND in Electrical Engineering from the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede. He got enrolled into the Delta State Government’s Youth Agricultural and Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP) in the 2017/2018 Cycle after seven years of unemployment. 

With his establishment package of 3 stocked tarpaulin fish tanks at the Delta State Agricultural Rural Development Authority (DARDA), he now has 8 tarpaulin tanks at DARDA and 2 earthen fish ponds along Anwai Road. Three years later, not only did he get married with the proceeds from fish farming, he acquired a plot of land for his permanent site. He also practises Electrical Installation and Maintenance, being the skill he acquired in the Polytechnic. He shares his story:

“Though it hasn’t been easy, yet it has been rewarding. I can say I am gainfully employed, having got married and being able to provide for my family as a YAGEPreneur. The knowledge I have gained in fish farming is rich. I run two farms in different locations far apart. Therefore, I have acquired a land for my permanent site in order to have my fish farms in one location. In addition, I didn’t abandon my skill.  I am an Electrical Engineer. I also practice electrical installation and maintenance.

“In my opinion, the Delta State Government is doing excellently well. YAGEP should be sustained because there are lots of youths out there looking for this opportunity.”