National Telescope national telescope newspaper
By Paulinus Nta, A’IBOM |
The Akwa Ibom state government has declared the first and last Fridays of every month as public holidays to encourage public servants to engage in farming activities.
In support of this initiative, the Bank of Industry has expressed its readiness to partner with the state government to actualise its dream by funding schools and serious-minded farmers to establish commercially viable small-scale farms across the state.
Engr. Pacqueens Irabor, the South-South Regional Manager of the Bank of Industry, disclosed this to the National Telescope.
He commended the state government for prioritising agricultural business, noting that this development will expose young men and women to viable opportunities in agribusiness from an early age.
He further stated that this policy will help direct students’ aspirations towards agriculture and breed new agribusiness leaders in the near future.
According to Irabor, private schools that are already registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) are eligible to access the bank’s loan facilities.
However, public schools, due to their nature of ownership and lack of CAC registration, will need to collaborate with the state government to develop a legal framework for funding the school farms.
This framework could involve a public-private partnership (PPP) approach to attract funds to set up commercially viable school farms.
These farms could produce for both subsistence and commercial purposes, as well as serve practical educational purposes for the students.
Addressing the current economic challenges in the country, Irabor advised Nigerians, especially the youth, to diversify their knowledge and create value for themselves rather than wallowing in self-pity and seeking non-existent white-collar jobs.
He emphasised the importance of self-reliance and the potential of agriculture as a sustainable source of livelihood.
The collaboration between the Bank of Industry and the Akwa Ibom state Government aims to foster a new generation of agribusiness leaders, support local farmers, and contribute to the state’s economic development through agriculture.
By engaging both private and public schools in this initiative, the project seeks to provide practical agricultural education and create employment opportunities for the youth, ultimately strengthening the agricultural sector in Akwa Ibom.
