The National Youth Service Corps yesterday said it has insured its crops with the National Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) during the 2022 farming season.
The organisation said it did this because of the problem of low crop yield experienced in 2021 at its farms in Kebbi State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja because of climate change.
Director-General, NYSC, Maj.-Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim stated this during the opening of the 2022 NYSC Farm and Ventures Managers workshop with the theme: “Effective Planning and Budgeting: A Necessity for NYSC Enterprise Operation.”
Ibrahim, who was represented by Director, Internal Audit, Leke Abiodun, appealed to all personnel of the NYSC Farms and Ventures to shun acts of sabotage, dishonesty, mismanagement and other vices.
The D-G said that it was important to shun such vices as they were capable of undermining the NYSC’s efforts.
He also said that as part of efforts to strengthen the management of the farms and other ventures nationwide, a circular had been issued directing all personnel manning them to report to the Director, Ventures Management for effective supervision, policy implementation and control.
He said: “Furthermore, in order to ensure accountability, we have ensured the opening of corporate accounts in commercial banks by all the ventures.
“The managers and accountants are to also ensure appropriate documentation of all financial transactions for ease of reference.”
Ibrahim said that the department was created in 2012 to enable the scheme provide a veritable platform for Nigerian youths to achieve self reliance, develop entrepreneurship spirit and contribute to national food security.
According to him, it was also set up to meet some of the requirements for youth corps members’ kits and orientation feeding.
The NYSC chief said: “This workshop is, therefore, another modest stride in our efforts to rejig the NYSC farms and other ventures for enhanced revenue generation.”