Six Corps Members have emerged winners of the competitive Farmers for the Future Programme, receiving grants cumulatively to the tune of N10 million.
NYSC Spokesperson, Caroline Embu announced this in a statement on Monday.
Embu noted that the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, during the presentation of cheques to the winners, charged the Corps Members to maximise the opportunities provided by the service year by venturing into commodity marketing and other viable businesses.
General Nafiu noted that agribusiness remained a viable avenue for young people seeking to build sustainable businesses and create wealth.
He stated this in Abuja during the presentation of cheques to six Corps Members who emerged winners of the competitive Farmers for the Future Programme, organised by the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) in collaboration with the NYSC.
The beneficiaries were; Dominic Olufemi, (FC/25C/1143), N3,000,000, Temitope Adewole, (ED/26A/2251), N2,000,000, Abdulwaheed Bala, (ED/25B/1402), N2,000,000, Olanike Mayungbe, (OG/26B/1037), N1,000,000, Kingsley Udoeyen, (KG/26A/1735), N1,000,000 and Lorember Lorsue, (JG/25B/1742), N1,000,000.
The NYSC Director-General commended the management of BATNF for placing Nigerian youths at the centre of its entrepreneurship initiatives through value-chain development, employment creation, and its partnership with the NYSC.
While congratulating the beneficiaries, General Nafiu stressed the importance of value addition to the success and sustainability of every business venture.
“I charge you to spread the news around. We have seen the outcome, and it is a good idea,” the Director-General said.
In her remarks, the Acting Director, Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED), Mrs Winifred Shopeka, said the programme commenced with the opening of an online registration portal for Corps Members engaged in agribusiness to submit their business plans, particularly those with existing businesses.
She disclosed that nearly 3,000 Corps Members applied for the programme and underwent a rigorous selection process, which produced 20 finalists.
According to her, the 20 finalists proceeded to a boot camp, after which they participated in a final pitching session that produced the 10 best presenters, from whom the six ultimate winners were selected.
Shopeka added that the six beneficiaries had been mentored and attached to established market operators who would assist in marketing their products.
She further disclosed that Corps Members who did not make it to the final stage of the competition were also trained by BATNF.
The Team Lead, BATNF, Mr Oludare Odusanya, congratulated the beneficiaries and urged Corps Members engaged in agribusiness to master the fundamentals and acquire the necessary knowledge and skills required to succeed in their ventures.
“We are happy with our collaboration with the NYSC, and it will continue,” he said.
Odusanya explained that BATNF is an independent organisation established to contribute to poverty reduction in Nigeria, particularly through sustainable agricultural practices and other interventions.
He said the Farmers for the Future Programme was instituted by BATNF in collaboration with NYSC to encourage Corps Members to venture into agribusiness and become job creators.
He added that the beneficiaries would be attached to mentors who would guide them towards achieving success in their respective businesses.
According to him, the programme has, since its inception, continued to enhance the entrepreneurial capacity of Corps Members.
