Gombe State government, on Friday, said it would provide corps members serving in the state with land and necessary support to venture into agribusiness.
Gov. Inuwa Yahaya stated this while declaring open the 2024 Batch ‘C’ Stream I Orientation Course at the NYSC Temporary Orientation Camp, Amada in Akko Local Government Area of the state.
Yahaya said that there were vast opportunities in the agriculture sector that could be harnessed by youths to become entrepreneurs and self-employed.
Represented by the Secretary to the state government, Prof. Ibrahim Njodi, Yahaya said he had directed that emirs and chiefs should support corps members in their domains towards establishing agribusinesses of their choice.
He stated that his administration would continue to provide an enabling environment for corps members to thrive in the state.
According to him, the state government is also committed to integrating corps members into its various developmental programmes for the benefit of all.
The governor advised corps members to take advantage of the NYSC skill acquisition programme for self-reliance and to contribute to nation-building.
According to him, the future of the country lies in the hands of the youths, hence they have a great role to play in shaping Nigeria’s destiny.
He advised them not to mortgage the unique opportunity that the NYSC and the state government had provided to take them to greater heights and have a sustainable future.
“You may not see the benefit immediately, but it will become an added advantage for you in the wider world.
“Note that your degree is hardly enough these days. Therefore, it is vital to have a skill in order to boost your profile.”
Yahaya assured the corps members of their safety and well-being.
“Your welfare remains our utmost priority and your security and safety in the state is guaranteed,” he said.
Corroborating Yahaya, the NYSC Coordinator in Gombe, Mrs Chinwe Nwachuku, urged corps members to embrace skills acquisition as a route to achieving financial independence.
Nwachuku said: “You must have known by now; millions of graduates are roaming the streets of Nigeria in search of elusive paid employment.
“It was in realisation of this, that the scheme introduced the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development training (SAED).
“This is to enable you learn and identify your skill potentials towards attainment of self-reliance and sufficiency.
“I encourage you to develop your entrepreneurial mind-set by choosing from any of the skill areas and make yourselves available for the training, which starts from the orientation camp.”
She advised them to obey the rules and regulations at the camp and also to report suspicious attempts that could threaten their security to relevant security agencies at the camp.
A total of 1,291 corps members in 2024 Batch ‘C” Stream I, comprising 690 male and 601 female, were sworn in for their orientation course.
NAN
