BY Nosa Akenzua, Asaba
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in collaboration with the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI) and Synergy Impact Development at the weekend commenced a five day capacity building training programme for selected National Youth Service (NYSC) members in Delta State.
The event which held at the Nigerian Stored Product Research Institute Secretariat, Sapele, was formerly declared opened by the Executive Director of NSPRI, Dr. Patricia Pessu who advised the NYSC members to put into proper practice what they Would acquire during the exercise.
She advised the participating NYSC members to ensure that they all adhered strictly to the Covid-19 rules and guidelines, throughout the training process.
The Executive Director, NSPRI, Dr. Pessu, in her address, informed the Corps members and other participants, “that agriculture is the biggest job provider in the country, however, farmers are unable to derive optimal benefit or profit for their efforts in agriculture, all because of the Nigerian ecosystem.”
She stated that, “ millions of young people in Nigeria are either unemployed or underemployed. The unemployment rate in Nigeria as at 2020 has risen to 33.3% which when translated into figures is about 22.3 million people. This and others gave birth to this capacity building.”
Highlighting the need and benefits of the programme, Dr. Pessu said that the “Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute has a mandate to conduct research and develop innovative technologies to minimise post-harvest losses of farm produce and to also maintain food safety and security in the country.”
She emphasised that “through this training, participants will be exposed to the numerous opportunities in the Nigerian value chain, food storage modalities and creation of value for themselves and the society.”
The Delta State Coordinator of the NYSC, Mr. Alao Olusegun, who was represented by Bazuaye Gloria, informed the participants that the programme was packaged to provide knowledge and skill in agricultural commodities, explaining that participants, through the programme would be equipped to solve the problem of unemployment among graduates in the country.
