The Lagos State Government, through the State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB), has commissioned five Poultry Pens under the Lagos State Agriculture Education Programme (LASAEP) in Public Primary Schools.
In his address at commissioning of the Poultry Pen at Obele Primary School, Itire, Surulere, the Executive Chairman of LASUBEB, Mr. Wahab Alawiye-King, explained that LASAEP was approved by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to complement the UBEC Agricultural Education Training Programme (AETP) in revamping agricultural education in Lagos State.
He pointed out that the 51 Schools already running the UBEC training programme in crop farming, fishery, animal husbandry and poultry among others, under 11 Local Government Education Authorities in the State, have been very vibrant and attractive to learners in the State.
His words: “The involvement of pupils in farming and agricultural programmes will not only contribute to the economic development but resuscitate agriculture in the learning environment and also promote Agricprenuership in Lagos State”.
“I encourage the learners to take full advantage of this programme and build lifelong skills that will be useful to them in the nearest future. I also urge the school manager and teachers to ensure that the pen is well utilised and supervised”, Alawiye-King said.
The Chairman averred that six schools actually benefitted from the construction of Poultry Pens under the “Catch Them Young” initiative with five commissioned, noting, however, that the Poultry Pen at Christ Central Primary School, Mushin is yet to be completed.
The Poultry Pen Project Consultant, Mr. Abidemi Iwajomo, testified that the positive interest showed by the pupils has engendered a greener pasture in farming, stressing that agriculture is contributing immensely to the development of the nation.
Iwajomo listed other beneficiary schools where commissioning took place simultaneously as Community Primary School II Egan, Alimosho; Roman Catholic Mission KETU Primary School, Epe; Local Government Primary School, Ipakodo, Ikorodu and Methodist Primary School, Gberigbe, Ijede, stressing that the construction of the poultry pens in schools is aimed at making students inculcate farming at an early stage.
