By Godwin Udoh
The Donald Peterson Foundation and the Office of the Special Adviser to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on Entrepreneurship Development, Dr. Donald Peterson, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Delta (UniDel), Agbor, to train 2000 youths in Tech-Preneurship and Agro-Preneurship.
The agreement with the University of Delta aims to provide alternatives for youths to steer them away from crime and help them earn a living. UniDel will provide and issue Diploma certificates and infrastructure for training, while the Donald Peterson Foundation will supply the resource persons to teach Tech-Preneurship and Agro-Preneurship.
The Special Adviser disclosed this to journalists at the operational office of the Donald Peterson Foundation in Agbor, the headquarters of Ika South Local Government Area. He emphasized that the training goes beyond just teaching IT; it includes integrating IT with business ideas.
“You are not just taught programming and IT-related courses; you are taught how to apply this knowledge in the business world, and your project will be your own business,” he explained.
“When you consider the multiplier effect of what we’re doing, it becomes clear that we are not merely teaching IT courses. We are infusing IT with business elements.”
“What we stand for is adding value—adding value through human capacity development, education, and mentorship. The space from which you come is where many of these issues are addressed, acting like a command center.”
Dr. Peterson further reiterated that the 2000 students began attending classes at the University of Delta for Tech-Preneurship four to five months ago, and the Agro-Preneurship program will be launched in October.
The program is divided into seven modules. Each module, if taken outside this initiative, would typically cost at least N500,000.
“So, for the seven modules, we are talking about N3.5 million, which we are offering for free. Considering the 2000 students registered, this package represents a value of over N7 billion.”
The Special Adviser stated that the program is designed with the participant in mind: “By the time you finish the course, you will be on the path to starting your own business. You will already be a business owner and, potentially, an employer of labor, which aligns with the ideology of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori’s MORE agenda to help youths become more self-reliant, resourceful, and productive.”
On the soon-to-be-launched Agro-Preneurship program, Dr. Peterson mentioned a training initiative called “Black Soldier Flies (BSF),” which focuses on raising maggots as a highly nutritious and cost-effective alternative to conventional feeds.
“The use of maggots allows you to raise bigger, stronger, healthier chickens for almost zero cost. Fish and pigs also benefit from feeding on maggots, which is particularly beneficial for those involved in animal husbandry,” he said.
Dr. Peterson acknowledged that some individuals might find the word and sight of maggots unappealing, so another feed alternative called Azolla, a water fern that grows in water and is also highly nutritious for chickens, goats, and pigs, will be introduced.
Describing these alternative feed sources as “low-hanging fruits,” the Special Adviser indicated that training programs will be organized to teach people how to cultivate Azolla in their backyards, either in basins or small ponds. He added that one impressive feature of this wonder feed alternative is its ability to replicate every 48 hours.
Finally, on the recent approval by the state executive council, presided over by Governor Oborevwori, for a multi-million-naira flyover project at the Uromi junction in Agbor, Ika South headquarters, Peterson described the initiative as a welcome relief that will not only enhance economic activities in the area but also ensure the safety of lives, recalling that hundreds of people have lost their lives while crossing the busy road over the years.
