The Ekiti State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade, has reiterated that the Ekiti State Broilers Production Scheme (EBOPS) remains a flagship youth empowerment initiative of the Ministry, established to train and support young people with interest in poultry production.

According to the Commissioner, the recruitment process for the 3rd Cohort of the programme has commenced, featuring screening, examinations, and onboarding of successful applicants.

A total of 250 youths will be enrolled into the new cohort and deployed across nine clusters in the State in Erinfun, Ikole, Ilupeju, Ido, Ado Ekiti Technical College, Ode, Efon, Ikere and Igede.

Mr. Boluwade further disclosed that contracts have already been awarded for the construction of 20,000-capacity poultry pens in each of the three senatorial districts—Ado, Ikole, and Emure Ekiti—to enhance production capacity and infrastructure.

He noted that the State Government’s target is to attain over 100,000 birds per production cycle by 2026, by which time the Poultry Processing Plant currently under development would have been completed to support large-scale processing and value addition.

The Commissioner announced that a one-day onboarding programme for the new cohort will hold on Monday, 17th November 2025 at 9:00 a.m.