DG Sanginga appointed as Grand Patron of Naija Farmer Reality TV Show
In recognition of his invaluable contribution to modern Agriculture and the well-being of ordinary Nigerians and Africans, NTA- Startimes in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has appointed IITA Director General, Dr Nteranya Sanginga as Grand Patron/Partner of “Naija Farmer Reality TV Show.”
Receiving the Certificate of Partnership on behalf of the DG, Head of Abuja Station Gbassey Tarawali, after reading out the inscription on the certificate said, ‘Our DG will be delighted to receive the certificate, which is well deserved. IITA is ready and has the much-needed capacity to be grand patron/partner of the Naija Farmer Reality TV Show.” He further commended the effort, which he believes will go a long way to strengthen the IITA Youth initiative pioneered by Dr Sanginga.
Gbassey Tarawali receiving the Reality TV Show team in the Board Room.
In his response, the promoter and CEO of the Reality TV Show, Dr Chigbo Okoli, requested that IITA Abuja Station be used as a meeting center for their committee meetings in preparation for the Show. He emphasized the role of IITA in the Reality Show saying, “Choosing IITA to train the housemates is mandatory because we want the training to be of a world-class standard and IITA has the expertise and technology to lead the Show.”
The Presentation of the Certificate took place a few days after the inaugural meeting for the proposed NTA-Startimes Naija Farmers (Agricultural) Reality TV Show held at the end of October 2019 in the Honorable Minister’s Conference Room. Participants at the meeting included the Hon. Minister for Agriculture, Alhaji Mohammed Sabo Nanono, members of National Assembly, representatives of other federal ministries and parastatals, and other stakeholders such as IITA, the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the World Bank Group.
The Reality TV show intends to provide a mix of entertainment, education, and advocacy aimed at producing expert celebrity farmers. Eighty beneficiaries will be selected as housemates along with 10 existing farm-owners (spread across the six geopolitical zones), and 100 non-resident trainees (10 from each neighborhood of the selected existing farms).
The main objectives of the project are to:
Solve the challenge of food insecurity and import substitution on agro-products, while helping to improve foreign reserves and tax income for Nigeria.
Provide a solution to the challenge of youth unemployment with over 35 million unemployed graduates and 500,000 new graduates every year.
Resolve the problem of insecurity due to youth restiveness and joblessness.
The Reality TV show is a win-win for all participants; there will be winners and no losers as all participants will become farm owners after the training while mentorship continues.
