NYSC, IITA Partner on Agric-Related Skills
The Director-General, National Youth Service Corps, Brig Gen Shuaibu Ibrahim has called for the deepening of the collaboration between the Scheme and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).
Brig Gen Ibrahim made this call at a virtual meeting held between the NYSC Management and that of the Institute.
The DG commended the Institute for the absorption of Corps Members for service, as well as empowering them with agric-related skills.
He praised the IITA for the retention of Corps Members who performed very well during service as staff, which he noted was a big boost to youth employment programme in the face of shrinkage of job opportunities in the country.
The NYSC Chief Executive invited the Institute to the NYSC camps in order to lecture Corps Members on agriculture during Orientation programme, as that will go a long way in encouraging Corps Members to go into farming which will have very positive effect in strengthening food security in Nigeria.
He further disclosed the Scheme’s readiness to revisit and deepen the Memorandum of Understanding between both institutions.
The Deputy Director-General of the Ibadan- based Institute, with offices in Abuja, Rivers and Kano States, Dr. Kenton Dashiell expressed appreciation to the NYSC Director-General over the call for renewal of the partnership between the two great Institutions which he said was a step in the right direction, given the pivotal role youth Corps Members play in the Institute, for which he is proud of them.
He showered praises on the Corps Members serving in the Agric Institute for their ingenuity, and described them as worthy ambassadors of the Scheme. He maintained that with the quality of Corps Members serving in the Institute, the future of Nigeria is guaranteed.
The Head, Capacity Development Office, IITA, Miss Sougrynoma Sore informed the NYSC Management that a total of 53 Corps Members are currently serving in the Institute and prayed for the strengthening of the NYSC/IITA collaboration.
Corps Member Babatunde Abbas Kareem serving in the Institute and Mr Mathews Ajibola Olatosin who served there in 2018, and was retained after service both shared their experiences serving and working in the IITA which they said have been quite worthwhile.
Babatunde made a presentation to the DG which was a painted portrait of the Chief Executive which drew the admiration and appreciation of the DG.
Further discussion on the MoU by both Institutions shall be held in the Abuja Office of the Institute.
By PRNigeria
