Niger govt to support corps members with interest in agriculture ― Gov Bello

Niger state government has expressed its commitment to assisting said members of the National Youths Service Corps  (NYSC) who are posted to serve in the state, with a keen interest in pursuing agricultural value chain and other aspects that have the potentials to add value to socio-economic life in the state.

The state governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, gave the promise in his remarks during the passing out ceremony of Batch ‘C’ stream two orientation course at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp on Wednesday in Paiko, outskirts of Minna, the state capital.

The governor, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Mr Emmanuel Umar, said the government would support youths who were willing to tow the path of agriculture.

He said, “for us in Niger state, we are working assiduously to take advantage of endowments in the agricultural value chain as well as other sectors of the economy that have potentials to add value to the people”.

He stated further that the task of building a virile and stable nation with a robust economy, demands collective efforts of all, stressing that corps members’ service represents one sure way of achieving the desired objective”.

The governor thereby enjoined the corps members not to reject their postings but rather face the challenges confronting the nation and strive towards leaving imprints in their host communities.

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The governor also advised the corps members to avoid being lured into degrading and harmful acts capable of destroying their lives and to shun social vices as well as crimes and criminalities.

He, however, warned both public and private organizations in parts of the state against the rejection of corps members posted to observe their one-year mandatory youth service scheme in the state, adding that government would not condone outright rejection of corps members by employers posted to their organisations.

In his remarks, the Secretary to the state government, Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Matanr, urged the corps members to bring their varying knowledge and expertise in diverse fields of human endeavour to develop their host communities and the state at large.

The SSG, who was represented by Alhaji Abdulraheem Kareem, Director, security affairs, Niger state government house, Minna, advised the corps members against embarking on unnecessary journeys without permission from the authority.

Meanwhile, the state Coordinator, NYSC, Mrs Funmilayo Ajayi, in her address, said that the paramilitary drills and leadership training in the camp had equipped the corps members to face challenges during their service year and prepared them for life after service.

She, however, appealed to the corps members to take the skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development programme seriously in order to acquire skills profitable to them.