Olam Nigeria Limited has sought a partnership with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to promote aquaculture development, expand youth empowerment opportunities and strengthen the capacity of young Nigerians in agribusiness.
The General Manager of Olam Nigeria Limited, Mrs Morenike Alayerogun, made the request when she led a delegation of the company on a courtesy visit to the NYSC National Directorate Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja.
Alayerogun disclosed that about 200 Corps Members were currently serving with Olam in various fields, stressing that the company remained committed to supporting the Federal Government's efforts in nation-building, youth development and mentorship.
According to a statement by the Director, Information and Public Relations, Mrs Caroline Embu, she said Olam had completed what she described as the country's biggest research and development institute for aquaculture in Ilorin, Kwara State, as part of its expansion programme.
According to her, the company is also constructing another factory in Asaba, Delta State, while maintaining partnerships with universities across the country to advance aquaculture development.
She explained that Olam planned to bring specialists from various universities to its Ilorin facility for a one-year training programme, after which the trainees would be attached to farmers across the country.
Alayerogun said equipping farmers with both theoretical and practical knowledge would improve productivity and promote sustainable aquaculture businesses.
She therefore appealed to the NYSC to deploy more Corps Members to Olam's farm operations, particularly in Kwara State.
She also expressed the company's readiness to support the Federal Government's target of growing the Nigerian economy to a $1 trillion economy.
"We will accommodate and feed them, and after one year, we will attach them to our farmers all over the nation," she said.
The Olam General Manager further proposed a structured partnership with NYSC to train Corps Members who could subsequently access support from the Bank of Industry (BoI) to establish their own businesses.
Responding, the NYSC Director General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, described unemployment as a global challenge, particularly among young people.
He noted that agribusiness remained an important component of Nigeria's economy, making Olam's agricultural activities particularly relevant to the country's economic development and youth empowerment efforts.
Nafiu commended Olam for its contributions to the Nigerian economy and its efforts to provide value and empowerment opportunities to Corps Members.
He said the NYSC frowned at the misuse and underutilisation of Corps Members, urging organisations that engage them to ensure that their deployments contribute meaningfully to their professional and personal development.
"We want to thank you for the value addition to our Corps Members," the NYSC Director General said.
Nafiu added that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would be required to clearly define the responsibilities and commitments of both parties.
He stressed that the security and welfare of Corps Members remained a top priority of the NYSC.