PROGRESSIVE N-POWER BUSINESS VENTURES FARM PROJECT COORDINATOR LAUDS FG ON THE BAN OF FOREX ON IMPORTATION OF FOOD ITEMS AND SOUGHT BETTER ENABLING ENVIRONMENT FOR LOCAL FARMERS TO GROW

The Federal Government has been lauded on the recent ban of FOREX on importation of food items, especially those that thrives well on Nigerian soil. This accolade was expressed by Mr. Kabir Ishola Balogun, the State Coordinator of the Kwara N-Power Farm, operated under the registered business name ‘Progressive N-Power Business Ventures’ (PNBV), at the Commissioning Ceremony of the Progressive N-Power Business Ventures (PNBV) Farm held at the University of Ilorin auditorium on Wednesday, 28th August, 2019.



While giving a historical background to the establishment of the farm during his Welcoming Speech, the Farm Coordinator/Chairman of the Organizing Committee noted that the PNBV began farm operation in the month of May, 2018 with two hectares of land piloted by seven investors who planted cassava, beans, maize and soybean but has now signed a ten-year (10) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for 40-hectare farmland with the University of Ilorin. He informed the gathering that melon (egusi) & millet were planted in 2019 season in addition to the previous crops and hinted that PNBV will soon diversify into other areas of agriculture such as snail rearing, poultry, fishery, bee keeping, and food processing/value chains. He emphasized that the present investors in PNBV cut across 2016 & 2017 beneficiaries from all graduate categories of N-Power namely- N-Health, N-Teach, N-Tax and N-Agro.



Mr. Balogun, a N-Health volunteer, further enjoyed other beneficiaries to embrace the investment opportunity in PNBV by simply investing a minimum of #30,000 which serves as a token preliminary commitment as government alone cannot provide job for all. He then appealed to all stakeholders, especially the Kwara State government to assist the group with a tractor, project vehicle, funds and other forms of support while also requesting to be a major supplier of the National Homegrown School Feeding Program in the state.



The Host/N-Power Focal Person in Kwara State, Hajia (Dr) Habibat Katibi said N-Power has been able to reduce the rate of unemployment in the country. She noted that the beneficiaries succeeded in establishing the farm to be commissioned due to their singular effort and commitment. She then commended the organizers of the event as she noted that the agropreneurs put up a good impression of themselves.



The Vice-Chancellor of University of Ilorin/Chairman of the Occasion, Prof. Sulyman Age Abdulkareem who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Technology and Innovation) Prof. Mikhail Olayinka Buhari said the University is blessed with about 15,000 hectares of land, which the institution is ready to put into use and partner with well meaning groups. He disclosed that the University had entered into partnership agreement with two different agricultural industries which will further make use of the University’s land.



In his goodwill message, Mr. Olusegun Adeyemi, the State Director of National Orientation Agency, commended the efforts of the concerned N-Power beneficiaries for coming up with such a laudable initiative and thanked the management of the University of Ilorin for providing the 40 hectares of land and support for the success of the initiative. He then pleaded with the University authority to provide farm settlement for N-Power farmers operating on the University campus, to ease the access of the agropreneurs to the farm.


Hajia Hafsat Olumo Yusuf who represented Senator Khairat Gwadabe while delivering her goodwill message, enjoined the agropreneurs to put in their best so as to sustain the ventures and keep exploring legitimate opportunities.



Also speaking, Dr. Femi Ogunsola representing Sen. (Arch) Lola Ashiru, said the youth can achieve success with farming and advised them to communicate effectively for the overall success of the programme. He also urged the beneficiaries to explore their community network.



The Senior Special Adviser to the President on Job creation, Youth and Employment, Mr Afolabi Imoukhuede represented by Mr. Mohammed Brimah (Special Adviser to the President on Job creation), said, “Today, I am happy to hear that N-Power Kwara and the University of Ilorin have signed an MOU for a ten-year lease on 40 hectares of land for large scale farming’’. He added ‘‘We are now moving to the promised land. Plans are in place to implement pending SIP and also commence State level SIPs’’ He explained that the Federal Government is talking with the states with the aim of replicating NSIP in other states and was elated that Kwara State government is making moves to embrace it. He then expressed his delight with the agropreneurs who organized the commissioning ceremony for blazing the trail and setting the standard. He further said that Progressive N-Power Business Ventures (PNBV) Farm popularly known as Kwara N-Power Farm will be used as a model in the country stressing that the N-Power programme is a means to an end and way of positively engaging the Youth. He then encouraged beneficiaries of the programme in other states to borrow a leaf from their Kwara counterparts.



The Executive Governor, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Kwara State Ministry of Agriculture, Alhaji Mohammed Katsina encouraged Youth to embrace farming and strive to be employers of labour. He noted that the event is critical to food security in the country and it projects the potential of Kwara State in the agricultural sector positively. He added that the State government is committed to eliminating hunger & poverty in the state as contained in the bill sent to the State House of Assembly.



The State N-Power Groups Chairman, Mr Mubarak Bello gave the Vote of Thanks. Thereafter, the dignitaries and the audience were led to the farm site by the Farm Project Coordinator for the cutting of ribbons and sightseeing. … THE END.




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ANN PROPOSES 18-40 YEARS AS AGE ELIGIBILITY FOR THE GRADUATE & NON-GRADUATE CATEGORIES OF THE KWARA STATE POVERTY REDUCTION PROGRAMME (KWSPRP) CONTAINED IN THE KWARA STATE SOCIAL INVESTMENT PROGRAMME BILL
The Kwara State Chapter of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), a party with a difference, had submitted her position paper on the proposed bill for a law to establish the Kwara State Social Investment Programme charged with the responsibility of tackling poverty, ensuring equitable distribution of resources and economic growth in the state and for other connected purposes. This was made known to our reporter by the State Chairman, Mr Olayinka Oladapo Jogunola and the State Secretary, Mr Kabir Ishola Balogun.
In the position paper, ANN proposed that the age bracket eligibility for beneficiaries of skills acquisition category of the scheme (mainly graduates) should be from 18 years to 40 years and not 18- 35 years as proposed.
Both Party Chieftains/Bigwigs explained that according to Part III, Section 12, Article 1 (b) on page 7 of the Draft Proposed Bill which states that ‘‘Kwara State Poverty Reduction Programme (KWSPRP) which shall assist young Kwarans between the ages of 18 years – 35 years to acquire and develop life – long skills’’, the maximum age stated for qualification was 35 years which is not suitable for the tackling of poverty, ensuring equitable distribution of resources and economic growth in the state and for other connected purposes as supposedly intended, due to the following few reasons: (i) Crime and immorality rates (robbery, drug abuse, banditry, kidnapping, etc) can drastically be reduced when youths & young adults (35-40 years) too are meaningfully engaged. (ii) Thousands of jobless or underemployed Kwaran youths between 35 years & 40 years have not gotten married which is not encouraged by our religions and cultures due to the societal menace associated therewith. (iii) The introduction of age bracket in the eligibility for securing jobs had led to many youths to falsify or reduce their real age in order to secure jobs. This should not be allowed to be encouraged or worsened by this noble bill. In fact, it is high time that age limitation be eradicated in the criteria for employment except when logically essential. (iv) Graduate applicants between 35 years & 40 years are better experienced and qualified as many have bagged their Postgraduate Diplomas and/or Masters Degrees thus, must not be demoralized or frustrated by wrong government policies in terms of age limitation.
Also contained in ANN submission is the proposal for the government to consider the minimum wage policy (minimum of #30,000) and that the graduate beneficiaries’ position/cadre & stipends should be based on individual academic qualifications say, Masters- #40,000, B.Sc./HND- #35,000, OND/NCE-#30,000. It is ANN belief that this will encourage more graduates to further their education.
The party state chapter then disclosed her intention to continue the periodic Environmental Clean-Up Exercise, organize a non-partisan Community Service/Merit Award Ceremony, and embark in agriculture to boost the state economy thereby serving as pacesetter among its peer in the country.
The State officers further disclosed her ongoing preparation to partake in the next Chairmanship & Councillorship elections in Kwara State and finally appealed to newbies in politics, upright, impactful, learned and progressive youthful men and women to join Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) party as it is a party known for patriotism, community services, transparency, integrity and excellence.

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