In a major step toward promoting sustainable agriculture and youth empowerment, the Gombe State Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) has supported 100 young people through a fish farming initiative, aimed at enhancing food security and creating economic opportunities.
The program, known as the Agricultural Youth Empowerment Programme, was launched under the Community Development Service (CDS) initiative of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), and championed by corps member Ishag Abdullahi Shehu.
During the official presentation of 2,500 fingerlings and 10 bags of feed, the Gombe State ACReSAL Project Coordinator, Dr. Sani Adamu Jauro, applauded Shehu’s leadership and commitment. He described the effort as aligning with Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s vision of uplifting the living standards of ordinary citizens through agricultural innovation.
“ACReSAL will continue to support youth-driven agricultural, environmental, and water related projects,” Dr. Jauro affirmed, stressing the agency’s readiness to collaborate with more corps members working on impactful community development programs.
Also speaking, Deputy Registrar of Gombe State University, Sarki Musa, who represented the Registrar, commended the initiative and urged other corps members to emulate Shehu’s example.
He expressed hope that the trained beneficiaries would build sustainable careers from the intervention.
On his part, Dr. Charles, Head of the Zoology Department at the university, emphasized the program’s potential to boost food production, economic development, and social stability in the state.
Representing the Shamakin Gombe, Alhaji Suleiman Ibrahim Jungodo hailed ACReSAL’s focus on youth empowerment, calling the fish farming program a transformational initiative that would provide meaningful jobs for unemployed youth.
He encouraged the beneficiaries to remain focused and assured them of continued community support.
In his remarks, Ishag Abdullahi Shehu explained that the initiative was designed to train and empower 100 youths in fish farming as a way to reduce unemployment and crime while improving the state’s agricultural output.
One of the beneficiaries, Samsun Musa Maijama’a, expressed gratitude to ACReSAL and the corps member, stating that the training would help youths become self reliant. “We expect to start selling fish within six months,” he added.
The initiative reaffirms ACReSAL’s dedication to youth inclusion, environmental resilience, and the promotion of sustainable livelihoods across Gombe State.
