FIRS partners group to train Ekiti youths on livestock farming

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has partnered with a group, JustSnails Africa, to train youths in Ekiti, Oyo, and Ondo states on livestock farming in a bid to eradicate hunger and enhance the economic development of the country.

According to the government agency, the partnership is also aimed at creating job opportunities and enhancing food security through agriculture and fish breeding.

Speaking at the end of a 2-day training on livestock farming held in Ikere-Ekiti, headquarters of Ikere Local Government Area of Ekiti State, the Executive Chairman of FIRS, Dr Zaccheus Adedeji, said the training was aimed at empowering Nigerian youths to achieve financial freedom by expanding the tax net and exporting poultry products from Nigeria across the globe, including the European Union, the Middle East, and Africa.

Adedeji, represented by Mrs Benedicta Akpana, added that the training would help the youths become entrepreneurs, further reducing insecurity and unemployment in Nigeria.

He added that the beneficiaries would, in turn, empower others, contributing to economic growth by increasing the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and fulfilling their tax obligations as responsible citizens.

He said, “Change is the only constant thing. The people say they know FIRS to always collect tax, but thanks to the new leadership under Dr. Zaccheus Adedeji, who has deemed it fit that we give back to society. We don’t only collect, but also give.

“That is why we came up with this initiative to empower the youths to make themselves better; government cannot invite everybody, and everybody cannot depend on the government to survive.

“You can do the little you can do for yourself. That’s why we are here to empower the youths through livestock farming training, where they learn different ways of breeding birds, poultry farming, fish farming, etc.

“In that way, you can become an entrepreneur for yourself, become responsible, and reduce insecurity as a result of unemployment. This is the first time this is happening from FIRS.”

“This is an entire Southwest initiative, and we are looking at empowering 60 youths from the Southwest. We have done it in Oyo State and Ekiti; we will move to Ondo State next. When we do that, we give them a token to help them start their various businesses. We believe that they will turn out well and become really productive.

“I will advise us as youths to take it very seriously because it doesn’t happen every day. If you have an opportunity to benefit from something like this, you don’t take it for granted. You put it to good use and make sure you are consistent in trying to develop yourself; keep learning and improving.”

On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of JustSnails Africa and convener of the training, Femi Oludare Rowland, said the major objective of the empowerment was to enhance food security, provide job security, and eradicate hunger and poverty among the people.

“The purpose of the training is to train our youths to get them equipped in livestock farming, agriculture, and fish breeding for now. The major goals are food security, job security, and to banish hunger and poverty in the land.

“We have decided to partner with the Federal Inland Revenue Service, where everybody knows that they are always into tax collection, but this time around they are giving back to society.

“We have partnered with the office of the technical assistant to the chairman of FIRS to achieve this great project, alongside some farms in each state.

“It will help the youths because, after the training, we will make a place like this an incubation center to get them empowered. Then they can start after the whole incubation process. They can also employ and empower people. That’s where joblessness and poverty in the land will be eradicated.

“The youths should also look beyond just the shade and go back into agriculture and farming; that’s the way forward,” he said.

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