The competition aims to encourage Nigerian adolescents to pursue careers in agribusiness and other value chains.

The winners were chosen from a pool of over 20,000 entries as one of ten finalists for the competition.

Chiamaka chiamaka chiamaka chi The overall winner was Mary Ikechukwu, the promoter of NuceoAgro Services, who received N3.5 million; second place went to Augustine Nwafor, the promoter of Custonus Automative, who received N2 million; and third place went to Juwon Ibitomi, who received N1 million, for a total of N6.5 million.

Ms Abimbola Okoya, Executive Director of BATNF, stated that the activity is meant to foster self-employment.

Ms Abimbola Okoya, BATNF’s Executive Director, stated that the exercise will foster self-employment through agro-allied companies.
BATNF, she added, has made a significant contribution to Nigeria’s long-term development strategy, particularly in the areas of poverty reduction and improving the quality of life of Nigerians in rural regions.

As an ex-Corps Member of the NYSC Scheme, Okoya noted that the Corps had appropriately prepared her for the role she now plays in the Foundation.

“I want to thank NYSC for always supporting the youths to translate ideas into money because agriculture is the key and it’s very stable”, she said in a statement by the Director, Press and Public Relations of the NYSC, Mrs Adenike Adeyemi.

Brig-Gen Shuaibu Ibrahim, NYSC Director-General, claimed that the competition will encourage youth production and self-employment through agriculture.

It would also assure food security, produce wealth, and boost the economy, according to the DG.

“BATNF has etched it’s footprints in the annals of Nigeria’s history as one of the best in youth engagement and development. NYSC is exceedingly happy to collaborate with the BATNF in this ground-breaking initiative,” the DG said.

Ibrahim asked the prize winners to use their competition experiences to provide effective entrepreneurial leadership to their colleagues and competitors in future editions of the tournament.

He said: “You should remain good ambassadors of the NYSC; you are the leaders of tomorrow and tomorrow begins now for all of you.”

Source : The Nation