Youth Employment: NYSC urges Corps members to embrace agriculture

*The Management of the National Youth Service Corps encourages serving Corps members to cultivate more interest in agriculture, earn their livelihood from it, and attain self-reliance 

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

As regards the pressing need for the youths to get trained and exposed to the emerging opportunities in the agricultural sector of the Nigerian economy, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has charged the serving Corps members to develop interest in agriculture to become self-reliant.

Brig.-Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, Director-General of NYSC, stated this at the inauguration of the 2021 Farming season by Corps members on a 16-hectare farmland secured by the NYSC in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa Saturday, April 24, agency report said.

The NYSC Director-General noted since 2012, the youth scheme has introduced a number of programmes, including Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) Programme, aimed at teaching Corps members skills they would need to be self-employed in view of limited white-collar jobs in the country.

One of the training programmes offered by SAED is agriculture, a sector capable of lifting many from poverty and employing many young Nigerians, said Ibrahim.

He stated: “With demonstrations on this farmland, we want to encourage Corps members to show more interest in agriculture and earn their livelihood through it.”

Ibrahim commended Alhaji Aliyu Onawo, Andoma of Doma, for offering the land to NYSC for agriculture demonstration to Corps members, among other uses.

According to Ibrahim, the acquisition of the land and the practical use of it would go a long way to convince Corps members to see agriculture as a viable alternative.

He stated: “We urge other royal fathers and state governments to emulate the good gesture of the Andoma to avail lands to our Corps members, so that they can showcase their talents and get experience in farming.”

Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, Nasarawa State Deputy Governor, also applauded the commitment of the NYSC Management in pushing the agriculture agenda of the Federal Government to Youth Corps members with a view to encouraging them to be self-reliant after the National Service.

The Deputy Governor, represented by Prof. Allalana Otaki, Honourable Commissioner of Agriculture and Water Resources, pledged Nasarawa State Government’s support for the NYSC agriculture initiative.

Mr. Stephen Dewan, the NYSC State Coordinator, as well expressed excitement over farming season development.

He promised to ensure that Corps members in the state are thoroughly trained and exposed to the numerous opportunities available in the agriculture sector.

In a speech on the occasion, Mr. Johnbenedict Tyoakosu, a Youth Corps member and President, NYSC Nasarawa State Agro-Allied Community Development Service (CDS) Group, said the group would commence the farming season with planting of melon seeds.

The Corps member disclosed that melon seeds mature in three months and two weeks, in addition to planting beniseed.

Mr. Tyoakosu stated: “This farm will be used for demonstration purposes for Corps members interested in farming to learn the best agronomic practices of the crops that will be cultivated here.

“It will enable us to train the beneficiaries not just theoretically but practically.”

Tyoakosu noted that the agricultural activities on the Demonstration Farm would contribute to the food security of Nasarawa State and Nigeria as a whole.