The Kwara State Ministry of Livestock Development has officially launched the Women and Youth Livestock Clubs under the Kwara Livestock Entrepreneurship Scheme (KWALES), a programme aimed at creating jobs, promoting sustainable livestock enterprises, and empowering youths and women across the state.
The inauguration, which was held at the Ministry on Friday, was led by the Commissioner for Livestock Development, Hon. Oloruntoyosi Ayobola Thomas, alongside the Commissioner for Youth Development, Hon. Ndanusa Usman, positions livestock enterprise as a key driver of economic prosperity and food security for the people of Kwara State.
Hon. Oloruntoyosi Thomas explained that KWALES is a business development and acceleration programme designed to deliver practical tools and rapid results for participants, rather than conventional training alone.
She added that the initiative is structured to support young people and women to build viable, profitable livestock enterprises within a short timeframe, aligning with Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s vision of promoting youth empowerment, economic growth, and sustainable development in the livestock sector.
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According to her, the programme is structured around enterprise-focused components, including: “Creating sustainable employment opportunities for at least 100 youths and women every month.
“Providing targeted coaching to enable access to funding from key sources, including the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, the Bank of Industry (BOI), the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF), development partners, and the private sector”
Facilitating market linkages to ensure business sustainability and Mentoring university students to establish registered livestock businesses before graduation.
“Appointing KWALES Ambassadors across institutions and communities to drive peer learning, advocacy, and wider participation in the programme”.
The Commissioner added that; “As part of its innovation drive, the initiative, in collaboration with the AdunGreen Foundation, introduced Black Soldier Fly (BSF), farming as its flagship feature, a climate-smart approach converting organic waste into affordable, high-quality protein feed for livestock.
“This innovation reduces feed costs, promotes large-scale waste recycling, and strengthens local feed production”.
Hon Thomas further informed that KWALES embodies Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s vision of positioning livestock as a driver of job creation, environmental sustainability, and inclusive economic growth for youths, women, and persons living with disabilities in Kwara State.
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The Commissioner for Youth Development, Hon Shehu Ndanusa Usman, had in his remarks, lauded the initiative and described the programme as a strategic platform for empowering youths and nurturing enterprise-driven leaders capable of strengthening Kwara State’s agricultural and livestock value chains.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Yahaya Mohammed, further reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to inclusive empowerment through programmes like KWALES, while representatives of the AdunGreen Foundation, Dr Bola Yusuf and Mr Olaribigbe Tajudeen, described the initiative as a practical model for sustainable, youth-led livestock development.
Both Commissioners later visited the KWALES Balck Soldier Fly (BSF), Hub at the Technology Incubation Centre behind the Ministry’s premises to see the innovation in action.
