The Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC) has called for stronger collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to expand agricultural and entrepreneurship opportunities for retiring military personnel transitioning to civilian life.
The Commandant of NAFRC, Air Vice Marshal Nnaemeka Ilo, made the call during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, in Abuja.
He emphasised the need to equip retiring service personnel with sustainable livelihood skills through enhanced agricultural programmes.
Air Vice Marshal Ilo thanked the Minister for receiving the delegation and reiterated the Centre’s mandate of preparing retiring military personnel for civilian life through entrepreneurship, vocational training and skills acquisition
He said that “NAFRC had acquired 40 hectares of land to establish its agricultural wing and appealed to the Ministry for support in the areas of training, modern equipment and technical expertise to strengthen the initiative.”
The Commandant noted that nearly 80 percent of participants undergoing resettlement training indicated interest in agricultural entrepreneurship, describing it as a clear indication of the need to expand the Centre’s agricultural capacity to meet growing demand.
Responding, Senator Kyari commended members of the Armed Forces for their sacrifices in defending Nigeria’s territorial integrity and maintaining national security, describing their contributions as “invaluable to the nation’s stability.”
The Minister outlined ongoing Nigerian Government Agricultural initiatives aimed at improving citizens’ livelihoods and expressed the Ministry’s readiness to collaborate closely with NAFRC in developing practical frameworks that will support retiring Armed Forces personnel and other security and law enforcement officers.
Both parties also agreed on the need to establish a cooperative society for trainees to improve access to government agricultural intervention programmes and information.
They further resolved to develop detailed modalities that would enable the Ministry to provide technical guidance and align the proposed partnership with existing agricultural development programmes.
The meeting is expected to pave way for a strategic partnership that will enhance agricultural entrepreneurship, promote self-reliance among retirees, and improve post-service livelihoods for personnel of the Armed Forces and other security agencies.
