The National Youth Service Corps NYSC days it will continue to explore avenues for training of corps members on modernised farming and deployment of equipment.
The Director General NYSC, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim made this known during separate signing of memorandum of understanding with the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute ARMTI and National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation NCAM at the office in Ilorin, Kwara state.
The Director General said the partnership kicked off with the two agencies was aimed at boosting the schemes agricultural programme and support corps members that are interested in agro-ventures.
According to a statement by the Director, Press and Public Relations Mrs Adenine Adeyemi, the Director-General advised corps members to identify their talents and develop them with passion.
Ibrahim said white collar jobs where not easy to come by which informed the decision of the scheme to introduce its skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development programme in 2012.
“We felt the need for us to partner so that you can bring your expertise to bear on our corps members by enhancing their skills in agro-business” Ibrahim said.
He said the synergy with ARMTI would offer professional training in modern agricultural practices for both corps members and NYSC staff.
He also said the input from ARMTI would boost the morale of other NYSC partners and attract more assistance for the corp members.
At NCAM the NYSC helmsman said corps members were gifted with potentials which if properly harnessed would propel the country towards greater economic development.
Youth Empowerment
The Executive Director ARMTI, Dr Olufemi Oladunni in his remarks assured of the institutes readiness to train corps members.
He said theinstitute recently trained and empowered some youths on poultry farming and vegetable production.
“I want to assure you of our full support and we won’t take anything for granted” he said.
Also speaking the Executive Director NCAM Engineer Muideen Kasalli assured of assistance to the NYSC adding that the institute would improve the capacity of corps members in agriculture through mechanization.
He said NCAM had over the years trained different stakeholders including students, youths and women in agriculture.
Nneka Ukachukwu
