Firm denies alleged fraud over Ekiti youths agriculture scheme

Management of YSJ Farms Limited,  a private agricultural company has denied allegation that it defrauded some youths in Ekiti State under the Bring Back the Youths to Agriculture

The firm General Manager, Rotimi Omole described the allegations as misleading, false and distortion of the programme’s structure and operations.

Addressing journalists on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, Omole said that the programme was established to address spiralling youths unemployment, and encourage sustainable participation in agribusiness and not for exploitation.

He clarified that the sum of N100,000 paid last year by the participants who pioneered the scheme during its take-off phase in 2024 was a commitment fee approved by the management of the YSJ Farms.

The General Manager clarified that the fee was designed to ensure seriousness, and long-term commitment from pioneer participants who voluntarily enrolled at the formative stage of the Bring Back the Youths in Agriculture initiative.

Omole added that new participants were never required to pay any commitment fee, maintaining that participation in the programme is free of charge for the new intakes.

He noted that the commitment fee was limited to the pioneer participants alone and should not be misconstrued as a recurring charge or a  means of exploitation.

Addressing claims on the alleged non-remuneration, the General Manager said stated that all payments to participants are strictly performance-based, noting that remuneration was determined  by measurable outputs recorded at farm site, regularity of attendance and level of engagement. 

Omole added that the scheme operates a results-driven model, under which the beneficiaries are compensated in direct proportion to their productivity and engagement. 

He clarified that disparities in payments among participants were a reflection of differences in individual performance and participation levels, not favoritism or denial of entitlements.

He disclosed that  some  beneficiaries were paid as high as N1.5m, while others earned lower payments commensurate with their measurable contributions to the programme.

He noted that the payment structure was designed to encourage accountability, hard work, and sustainability, adding that the initiative rewards effort and results rather than mere participation.