FG Trains 2nd Batch of 2023 Agreprenuers Start-Up Scheme 

By Stella Odueme 
The Federal Government, through the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), has  trained  some civil servants in the 2nd batch of the Agriprenuership Start-up Scheme for 2023.
The Scheme is in line with the present administration’s priority on inclusivity, drawing on skills and Pillar 6 of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation plan (FCSSIP25), which is aimed at enhancing the value of civil servants.    
The programme was declared open by the Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, (SWO-OHCSF), Mr. Mahmud Adam Kambari, on Monday, November 20,  2023, in Abuja. 
Kambari, stated that the scheme aims at providing opportunities for serving civil servants to enjoy multiple streams of income through agriculture and its value chain, as permitted by the Constitution and the revised Public Service Rules (PSR), while also preparing prospective retirees for life after service. ‘‘The programme is not merely a venture; it is a testament to our belief in the potential that lies within each individual regardless of their professional background,” he said.The Permanent Secretary also noted that Agrepreneurship opens doors to new opportunities, harnessing the untapped potential in agriculture and entrepreneurship sectors that are vital for sustainable development and economic growth.According to him, four  Ministries, extra-ministerial Departments and Agencies (MDAs), namely the OHCSF, Federal Ministries of Health, Aviation and Aerospace as well as the State House, with about 98 trainees participated in the programme.The Permanent Secretary thanked key stakeholders and partners which included the Public Service Institute of Nigeria (PSIN), Bank of Agriculture (BOA) and select farmers for their invaluable contributions towards the actualisation of the programme. Earlier, the Administrator, Public Service Institute of Nigeria (PSIN), Dr. AbdulGaniyu Obatoyinbo, in his goodwill message, noted that an entrepreneurship and commercial orientation is a must have for all civil servants. He also said that holding on to a skill or vocation is an avenue for creating wealth. ”If you cannot create wealth, you will be poor,” he opined.Representative of the participants, Mr. John Esabu, said there is no longer fear in retirement as the scheme will enable retirees cope with life after service, as well as boost their lifestyles and wellbeing.The theoretical component of the training, which ran from 20th to 24th November, was  handled by PSIN, the hands-on practical training held at selected farms from 27th November to 8th December, 2023, while the Bank of Agriculture, is expected to provide loans to beneficiaries of the scheme at the end of the training.