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BATNF/NYSC Top Prize Winners Emerge
Joel Ajayi
Four Corps Members emerged overall winners of Farmers For the Future Grant Competition sponsored by the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF).
The winners who went away with a total sum of Six Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira cash prizes were among the ten (10) finalists earlier selected out of over 20, 000 entrants for the competition.
The keenly contested grand finale showcased the skills of young agro-entrepreneurs in the ground-breaking initiative NYSC/BATNF partnership.
The competition essentially aims at promoting agro-entrepreneurial training, where Corps Members who emerge victorious from the competitive process, undergo training and mentoring in big farm establiments and are empowered with money, land, agricultural inputs and services.
According to the Executive Director, British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF), Ms Abimbola Okoya, the exercise is expected to encourage self-employment through agro-allied ventures.
She stated further that BATNF has contributed immensely to Nigeria’s sustainable development agenda, especially in the area of poverty reduction and improvement in the quality of life of Nigerians living in the rural areas.
She stated that as a participant in the Scheme, the Corps had prepared her adequately for the role she is playing today in the Foundation.
In his keynote address at the virtual Pitch Ceremony, the NYSC Director General, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim acknowledged the relevance of the initiative by BATNF which inspires youth- productivity and self employment, through agriculture.
He pledged the commitment of the NYSC to collaborate and nurture the initiative to optimal growth and sustainability.
Highpoint of the occasion was the presentation of Three Million Naira to the overall winner of the competition; Chiamaka Mary Ikechukwu promoter of NuceoAgro Services, and Two Million Naira to Augustine Nwafor – Custonus Automative who emerged 2nd Position in contest. Juwon Ibitomi went away with One Million Naira as 3rd place cash prize, while John Eduga who emerged 4th Position won the Special Award category sponsored by Mr. Steve Okeleji; one of the five (5) Judges of the competition. He went home with the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira.
Featured
Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support
Joel Ajayi
Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.
More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.
The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.
Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.
The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.
Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.
Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.
Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.
Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.
The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.
Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.
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