The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has partnered with the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) to encourage young Nigerians to embrace agriculture and develop sustainable businesses. Six corps members received a total of N10 million in grants to expand their agribusiness ventures under the Farmers for the Future Programme. The programme aims to support young entrepreneurs in developing viable businesses.
The NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, presented the cheques to the beneficiaries in Abuja. He urged corps members to maximise the opportunities provided by the service year by venturing into commodity marketing and other viable businesses. Nafiu emphasized that agribusiness is a viable avenue for young people to build sustainable enterprises, create employment, and generate wealth.
The beneficiaries of the grants are Dominic Olufemi, Temitope Adewole, Abdulwaheed Bala, Olanike Mayungbe, Kingsley Udoeyen, and Lorember Lorsue. They received N3 million, N2 million, N2 million, N1 million, N1 million, and N1 million respectively. The selection process involved an online registration portal, a rigorous selection process, a boot camp, and a final pitching session.
According to the Acting Director, Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED), Mrs Winifred Shopeka, nearly 3,000 corps members applied for the programme and underwent a rigorous selection process that produced 20 finalists. The finalists participated in a boot camp and a final pitching session, which produced the 10 best presenters before the six ultimate winners were selected.
The beneficiaries have also been mentored and attached to established market operators to assist them in marketing their products. Shopeka added that corps members who did not make the final stage of the competition were also trained by BATNF. The programme aims to enhance the entrepreneurial capacity of corps members and encourage them to venture into agribusiness.
The BATNF Team Lead, Mr Oludare Odusanya, congratulated the beneficiaries and urged corps members engaged in agribusiness to master the fundamentals and acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed. He explained that BATNF was established to contribute to poverty reduction in Nigeria through sustainable agricultural practices and other interventions.
The Farmers for the Future Programme has, since its inception, continued to enhance the entrepreneurial capacity of corps members. The programme provides a platform for young entrepreneurs to develop viable businesses and become job creators. The beneficiaries will be attached to mentors who will guide them towards achieving success in their respective businesses.
Key points
- Six NYSC members receive N10 million grants to expand their agribusiness ventures.
- The programme aims to support young entrepreneurs in developing viable businesses and encourage them to venture into agribusiness.
- The beneficiaries have been mentored and attached to established market operators to assist them in marketing their products.
