By Adeola Kunle
The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has urged Corps Members to take advantage of the opportunities available during their service year by exploring commodity marketing, agribusiness and other sustainable business ventures.
Nafiu made the call in Abuja while presenting cheques to six Corps Members who emerged as beneficiaries of the Farmers for the Future Programme, an initiative of the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) in partnership with the NYSC.
The NYSC Director-General described agribusiness as a promising sector through which young Nigerians can establish sustainable enterprises, generate employment and build wealth.
The six beneficiaries received a combined sum of N10 million in grants. They are Dominic Olufemi, FC/25C/1143, who received N3 million; Temitope Adewole, ED/26A/2251, N2 million; Abdulwaheed Bala, ED/25B/1402, N2 million; Olanike Mayungbe, OG/26B/1037, N1 million; Kingsley Udoeyen, KG/26A/1735, N1 million; and Lorember Lorsue, JG/25B/1742, N1 million.
Nafiu commended BATNF for making Nigerian youths a key focus of its entrepreneurship programmes, particularly through value-chain development, employment generation and its collaboration with the NYSC.
While congratulating the grant recipients, the NYSC Director-General emphasised the need for entrepreneurs to incorporate value addition into their businesses, noting that it is essential to the growth and long-term sustainability of any venture.
He also encouraged the beneficiaries to share their experiences with other Corps Members and promote the opportunities available through the programme.
Speaking at the event, the Acting Director, Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED), Mrs Winifred Shopeka, explained that the Farmers for the Future Programme began with an online registration process through which Corps Members involved in agribusiness submitted their business plans, especially those already operating businesses.
According to her, almost 3,000 Corps Members applied for the programme. Following a rigorous screening exercise, 20 finalists were selected.
The finalists subsequently participated in a boot camp before presenting their business ideas during a final pitching session. The pitching exercise produced the 10 strongest presenters, from whom the six eventual winners were selected.
Shopeka disclosed that the six beneficiaries had undergone mentorship and had been linked with established market operators who would support them in marketing their agricultural products.
She added that Corps Members who did not progress to the final stage were also given training by BATNF as part of the organisation's efforts to build entrepreneurial capacity among young people.
Also speaking, the BATNF Team Lead, Mr Oludare Odusanya, congratulated the beneficiaries and encouraged Corps Members involved in agribusiness to understand the fundamentals of their businesses while developing the knowledge and skills required to succeed.
He reaffirmed BATNF's commitment to its partnership with the NYSC, saying the collaboration would continue.
Odusanya explained that BATNF is an independent organisation established to support poverty reduction efforts in Nigeria, with a focus on sustainable agricultural practices and other interventions.
He said the Farmers for the Future Programme was created jointly by BATNF and the NYSC to encourage Corps Members to embrace agribusiness, develop sustainable enterprises and become employers of labour.
He further stated that the beneficiaries would be connected with mentors who would provide guidance and practical support as they develop their respective businesses.
According to him, the programme has continued to strengthen the entrepreneurial abilities of Corps Members since its establishment.
Adeola Kunle
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