A female National Youth Service Corps member serving in Katsina State, Nafisa Umar-Hassan, has successfully trained 20 women in poultry farming and feed production, empowering them with essential skills for sustainable livelihoods.
The accomplishment was celebrated on Saturday at the graduation ceremony in Katsina, where the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Prof. Ahmed Bakori, expressed his admiration for Umar-Hassan’s initiative.
Bakori highlighted that the training provided to the beneficiaries covered best agronomic practices in poultry production, including effective management strategies and market linkages, which are crucial for success in the industry.
He lauded the corps member’s dedication, noting the positive impact of the project on the local community.
The Fadama Project, through its State Coordinator, Mohammed Bello, partnered with Umar-Hassan in supporting the initiative.
Bello explained that the office was convinced by the alignment of the project’s objectives with the Fadama Project’s goals, leading to their collaboration.
He also emphasized that the training would benefit the community in various ways, particularly by improving local poultry production and creating economic opportunities.
In a show of appreciation, the NYSC State Coordinator, Sa’idu Ibrahim, commended Umar-Hassan for her ingenuity and thoughtfulness.
He noted that this initiative was just one of many contributions she had made to the community during her service year.
Besides the poultry training, Umar-Hassan had previously drilled a borehole at the Dan-Shirwa community in Charanchi Local Government, donated 50 mattresses each to the Primary Health Centres in Kaita, Batagarawa, and Rimi LGAs, and provided uniforms to 100 students at Batagarawa Primary School.
She also installed street lights at a Tsangaya School in Katsina.
Ibrahim encouraged other corps members to take inspiration from Umar-Hassan’s example and execute similar community development projects in their respective host communities.
He also urged stakeholders, including government officials, corps employers, and philanthropists, to continue offering support to these young Nigerians making a difference.
Reflecting on her experience, Umar-Hassan shared that her NYSC journey had offered invaluable exposure to the diverse lifestyles and challenges faced by the people of her host community and the wider state.
She recognized the community’s traditional dynamics, especially regarding women’s roles, noting, “They hardly make decisions without the permission of their husbands.”
“After creating awareness among the women, I was able to convince 20 of them who participated in the training on best agronomic practices in poultry production, management, and market linkages.
“I am assuring you that each of the women can now produce feed to start a poultry farm,” the corps member said.
Umar-Hassan explained that, as part of the empowerment package, each participant received a variety of resources; a plastic drinker, a bag of feed, a feeding tray, 25-day-old chickens, and essential poultry drugs for their farm’s sustainability.
She credited the success of the project to the support she received from the state Commissioner for Agriculture, other executive council members, and philanthropists, who helped raise funds for the necessary materials.
“This initiative was part of my Community Development Service (CDS), and I am confident that these women now have the skills to run a successful poultry business,” Umar-Hassan added.
Her commendable work in Katsina not only showcases the spirit of service but also demonstrates how one individual’s effort can lead to lasting change in a community.
