British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF), is a self dependent charity body that was created way back 2002. BATNF collaborated with FGN with the sole aim of assisting Nigeria’s socio-economic growth.
The body has so far play a major role in the country’s sustainable development agenda/plan, which has so far being felt in the lives of rural dwellers, and eradication of poverty in Nigeria at large.
The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Shu’aibu Ibrahim remarkably applaud the initiative introduced by the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) which encourages self employment, productivity, and economical growth in the country.
BATNF in collaboration with the NYSC scheme organized a competition with a target of supporting agro-entrepreneurial activities/training, among corp members. Successful participants were therefore placed in a training and mentoring ground (farm establishments) where they were empowered with land, funds, and agricultural inputs/services needed.
In this very Grant Competition organized by BATNF, twenty thousand (20,000) corps members showed interest of which only ten (10) made it to the final round.
Among the finalist, four (4) Corps Members came out as overall winners, claiming the total sum of Six million, five hundred thousand Naira (N6,500,000).
It was really competitive, as the young agro-entrepreneurs displayed undiluted skills in the classic collaborative competition of NYSC/BATNF.
The Director General of the NYSC scheme also promised continuity with the initiative, as it’s a better means of sustainability and growth of fellow corp members and the nation at large.
The first position Chiamaka M. Ikechukwu was presented with three million naira (N3,000,000), the second position Augustine Nwafor was given two million naira (N2,000,000), the third position Juwon Ibitomi went home with a million naira (N1,000,000), while the prize of Five hundred thousand (N500,000) meant for the forth Position was claimed by John Eduga.
Ms Abimbola O. who is the Executive Director of BATNF has also encouraged the corps members to keep on their good works, as they (the participants) made her improve in her role in the foundation.