By Bode Olushegun
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, has released over N400 million for the welfare of youth corps members serving in the state in the last two years, the Director General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brig. Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, has said.
Speaking on Monday in Maiduguri during the graduation of the ceremony of about 269 soil doctors and extension workers, Ibrahim was full of praises for the governor.
He said he could not but appreciate the governor for his support to corps members serving in Borno State whom he had given over N400 million as welfare in the last two years.
The Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, who stood in for President Muhammadu Buhari, on the occasion was equally with words of praises for the governor.
He said the governor had an excellent working relationship with all federal government agencies that he has had reasons to relate with.
He said though the governor have had to face enormous challenges in administering the state which had been battered by insurgency, but “he still stands tall among his pairs in providing governance to the common man.”
The Executive Secretary of the National Land Development Agency (NALDA), Mr Paul Ikonne in his remarks on the occasion described the governor as “one of the proactive governors we have in the country.”
He said it was commendable the provision of an enabling environment by the governor for the Young Farmers’ Scheme to be implemented in the state.
Two hundred and sixty-nine (269) soil doctors and extension workers have graduated from 27 local government areas of Borno State.
They were trained in soil analysis and extension services under the National Young Farmers Scheme, championed by the National Land Development Agency (NALDA) in collaboration with Borno’s Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries Development.
About 1000 youth graduates are expected to benefit from the training, which will be conducted in batches of 200.
In his speech, Governor Babagana Zulum emphasized the need for more extension workers to revitalize the agricultural sector in Nigeria.
He commended his predecessor, Senator Kashim Shettima for the huge agricultural equipments he procured during his tenure as the governor of the state.
He also acknowledged the tremendous effort put in place by the Executive Secretary of NALDA for the scheme to take off.
Earlier, Borno State Commissioner of Animal Resources and Fisheries Development, Comrade Juliana Bitrus disclosed that the governor had approved the release of all counterpart funds as well as stipends to the 269 graduate beneficiaries.
The Commissioner also disclosed that the governor had approved the allocation of over 15 hectares of land for the Young Farmers Scheme in 40 different locations in the state.
She also said another 2000 unemployed youth would be trained on fish farming under the Young Farmers Scheme, while 40 other fish processors would also benefit from the same scheme.
Also present on the occasion were the Deputy Governor of Borno, Usman Kadafur, Senator Kashim Shettima, Senator Abubakar Kyari, representative of the Governor of Bauchi State, Chief Whip of the National Assembly, Barr. Mohammed Monguno, Director General of NYSC, acting Borno State chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Ali Dalori, Secretary to the state government, Usman Jidda-Shuwa, head of service, Barrister Simon Malgwi, and the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Prof. Isa Hussaini.
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