Army Trains Hundreds Of Officers, Families On Agro-Business Enterprise
By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City
As part of effort to key into one of the 3 pillars of the COAS’ Command Philosophy, the Nigerian Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (NASEME) Auchi in conjunction with TARO Agro Consulting and IFIERUITY Logistics Services has organized a 5-Day NASEME BARRACKS INVESTMENT INITIATIVE PROGRAMME with a theme: CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME FOCUSED ON SELECTED AGRO-BUSINESS ENTERPRISES AND ENTREPRENEURIAL TRAINING.
The programme which was held at the NASEME Auditorium and other selected areas within NASEME Barracks Auchi Edo State, had participants undergo an intensive training on Fish Farming, Vegetable Farming, Poultry Farming and Fruit Styling. The participants were drawn from officers, soldiers and their families as well as other members of the host community.
The Corps Commander Nigerian Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Represented by Col E A Omoba, highlighted the importance of Agro Business and lauded the initiative of the Commandant NASEME in implementing one of the Chief of Army Staff welfare drive and resolve to support the home front to make the Barracks Communities self-sufficient in Agro-business, which will help to cushion the effect of inflation on salaries.
He further stated that the initiative was designed to empower military personnel and their families to become self-reliant and contribute to economic development in Nigeria.
During the programme, resource persons from TARO Agro Consulting and IFIERUITY LOGISTICS SERVICES took participants through practical and theoretical sessions on the various aspects of agro-based businesses, which include Fish, Poultry and Vegetable farming and also Fruit Styling and Juice Making.
In his remarks at the closing ceremony, the Commandant Nigerian Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Major General Oladele O Arogundade, expressed his satisfaction with the level of participation, noting that the programme was a huge success.
He highlighted that the programme was aimed at taking the advantage of the vast land mass available to the school for farming and added that he was optimistic that the COAS a visionary leader will support the school in ensuring the sustenance of the empowerment programme.
Similarly, the Deputy Commandant/Director of Studies, Col Theophilus O Oshuporu, in his vote of thanks, urged the participants to make good use of the knowledge and skills gained during the programme to start and grow their agro-based businesses.
He went further to thanked the resource persons Mr Olumide Akintaro CEO Taro Agro Consulting and Mrs Ifeoma Aniekan CEO IFIEFRUITY Logistics Services and their teams for making the programme a success.
The NASEME Barracks Investment Initiative Programme is expected to be an annual event that will impact positively on the socio-economic development of not just the host community but the nation as a whole.
Highpoints of the closing ceremony was the presentation of certificates to the resource persons and the participants by the NASEME Commandant