Four Corps Members have emerged overall winners of Farmers for the Future Grant Competition towards boosting agric-business value chain among Nigerian youths. The competition was organised in partnership with National Youth Service Corps NYSC and British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation BATNF.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Director, Press and Public Relations of the NYSC, Mrs. Adenike Adeyemi and made available to Journalists in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
A total cash prizes amount of N6, 500, 000.00 was awarded to the winners who were among the 10 finalists earlier selected out of over 20,000 entrants for the competition.
The overall winner, Chiamaka Mary Ikechukwu, promoter of NuceoAgro Services, got N3, 000, 000.00 while Augustine Nwafor, promoter of Custonus Automative who came second was given N2, 000, 000.00 and Juwon Ibitomi was awarded N1, 000,000.00 for coming third.
Also, John Eduga, who came fourth, won the Special Award category with the sum of N500, 000.00, sponsored by one of the five Judges during the competition, Mr Steve Okeleji
The keenly contested grand finale showcased the skills of young agro-entrepreneurs in the ground-breaking initiative of NYSC/BATNF partnership.
Promotion of agro-entrepreneurship
Adenike revealed that the competition essentially aims at promoting agro-entrepreneurial training where Corps Members who emerge victorious from the competitive process, undergo training and mentoring in big farm establishments before being empowered with money, land, agricultural inputs and services.
According to the Executive Director, BATNF, Ms Abimbola Okoya, the exercise is expected to encourage self-employment through agro-allied ventures.
She said BATNF has contributed immensely to Nigeria’s sustainable development agenda especially in the areas of poverty reduction and improvement in the quality of life of Nigerians living in the rural areas.
Okoya stated that as an ex-Corps Member of the NYSC, the Corps had prepared her adequately for the role she is playing today in the Foundation.
“I want to thank NYSC for always supporting the youths to translate ideas into money because agriculture is the key and it’s very stable”, she said.
Youth development
In his keynote address at the virtual Pitch Ceremony, NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim acknowledged the relevance of the initiative by BATNF which inspires youth productivity and self employment through agriculture.
He added that it would also ensure food security, create wealth and develop the economy
“BATNF has etched its footprints in the annals of Nigeria’s history as one of the best in youth engagement and development. NYSC is exceedingly happy to collaborate with the BATNF in this ground-breaking initiative”, the DG said.
Ibrahim urged the prize winners to utilize the experiences garnered from the competition to provide good entrepreneurial leadership for their colleagues and participants in subsequent editions of the competition.
He said: “you should remain good ambassadors of the NYSC; you are the leaders of tomorrow and tomorrow begins now for all of you”.
The Director-General also pledged the commitment of the NYSC to collaborate and nurture the initiative to optimal growth and sustainability.
Nneka Ukachukwu
