Youth empowerment: NAF flags off planting season for agriculture programme in Port Harcourt
- The Nigerian Air Force has ventured into agriculture for the sake of empowering youths
- The Force flagged off the planting season for the Port Harcourt chapter of the Base Youths Empowerment Through Agriculture programme
- All youths above 18 years residing in the base have been encouraged to take advantage and fully participate in the scheme
The planting season for the Port Harcourt Chapter of the Base Youths Empowerment Through Agriculture (BYETA) programme was flagged off by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Thursday, April 12.
The BYETA programme, an initiative of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abuabkar, is aimed at empowering youths economically in order to curb social vices and crime among youths residing on NAF bases.
The programme is also aimed at promoting agriculture and self-sufficiency among the youths.
PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app
While speaking during the flag-off ceremony at 115 Special Operations Group Port Harcourt, the CAS, represented by the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Tactical Air Command, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Isiaka Amao, reiterated the commitment of the current NAF leadership to develop human capacity, not only of personnel but also of the youths residing on all NAF bases.
This, according to him, is in line with the first key driver of CAS Vision, which is ‘human capacity development through robust and result oriented training for enhanced professional performance’.
“The youths represent the future and a misdirected youth population will ultimately lead to a misdirected community,” he said.
The CAS representative stated that BYETA members had been encouraged to form agriculture cooperative societies for the purpose of accessing loans to boost food production. While noting that the cooperative societies had been formed, he added that the NAF Investments Limited was also interested in funding some aspects of the BYETA Programme.
He urged all youths above 18 years residing in the base to take advantage and fully participate in the scheme to enhance their resource base and also learn a skill, which they might need later in life. AVM Amao then thanked the CAS, Air Marshal Abubakar, for the laudable initiative.
Earlier in his remarks, the Commander 115 Special Operations Group, Air Commodore Elijah Ebiowe stated that 106 youths are now participating in the BYETA programme, a sharp improvement from only 45 youths that initially showed interest.
According to him, aside from crop farming, plans are underway to commence training in fishery and poultry. In addition, the Unit intends to collaborate with viable agricultural agencies that could promote training and also grant needed sponsorships for the programme.
According to the commander, the crops to be cultivated include yam, cucumber, pumpkin and cassava.
BYETA programme was first launched in the NAF in year 2016. So far, the scheme has been replicated in Makurdi, Kaduna, Lagos and Benin.
The official flag-off of the planting season for the remaining NAF units has been scheduled for later dates because of variations in farming seasons.
READ ALSO: Nigerian Air Force special forces foil bombing attempt at UNIMAID
Meanwhile, NAF on Tuesday, April 10, commenced a 3-day medical and surgical outreach for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Rann IDP camp, Borno state.
Legit.ng gathered that the medical outreach, which would last till Friday, April 13, was initiated by the NAF leadership to avoid humanitarian catastrophe due to the recent withdrawal of humanitarian services by Non-Governmental Organisations from Rann, following the recent attack by remnants of Boko Haram terrorists.
The outreach which is at the instance of the Chief of the Air Staff, would provide free primary healthcare and curative services, medicated glasses, mass deworming as well as general and eye surgeries.
Nigerian Air Force operations against Boko Haram on Legit.ng TV
Source: Legit.ng
