By Aduragbemi Omiyale
An educational grant for first-year students in public tertiary institutions in Nigeria has been introduced by Olam Agri, a leading agribusiness in food, feed, and fibre and an operating group of Olam Group.
The funding support for the students will be open to all the courses of study offered in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
Business Post gathered that only the best-qualified applicants would benefit from the grant. They would be chosen through a merit-based selection process that strictly adheres to the rules of fairness, transparency, fair play, and independent audit, from the application, and shortlisting, all through to the finalists’ selection stages.
“Enabling wider education and skill development for young people is one key area of focus. The education grant will make a valuable contribution to supporting students to fulfil their potential and more broadly developing the country’s human capital,” the Country Head for Olam Agri in Nigeria, Mr Ashish Pande, said at the unveiling of The Seeds for the Future Foundation a few days ago.
At the event held at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja and attended by Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, the Olam chief said the foundation was designed to strengthen opportunities for farmers and communities along its value chain.
He said the Seeds for the Future Foundation would focus on four key social action pillars: supporting farms and farmers to strengthen local wheat production; enabling wider education and skills development for young people; empowering women in farming communities; and promoting health and nutrition across the country.
The Seeds for the Future is Olam Agri’s flagship N300 million wheat value chain development initiative in Nigeria, launched in 2021. It aims to contribute to the attainment of the government’s economic development agenda in key segments of the economy, such as agriculture/food security, economic diversification, women empowerment, nutrition & health, education, and skills development.
“Olam Agri is committed to supporting activities that have a direct and positive impact on farmers and their communities in Nigeria.
“The launch of The Seeds for the Future Foundation strengthens our focus on improving the livelihoods of farmers, communities, women and young people, as well as the development of the agricultural sector.
“We’re supportive of the Government’s economic development agenda, and we recognize that the private sector has a key role to play to collaborate to drive sustainable growth in communities,” Mr Pande said.
On his part, Mr Osinbajo lauded Olam Agri in Nigeria for the launch of the foundation, as well as its investments in the agricultural sector.
“Olam deserves our heartfelt commendation for giving us a reason to celebrate. The company is investing in our future through the Seeds for the Future Foundation investments in seeds that will feed our population and education that will harness the potential of our young people.
“These laudable intervention efforts in research and seed development and other critical sectors of the economy have attracted greater attention leading to the business receiving the National Productivity Order of Merit Award from President Muhammadu Buhari earlier in the year,” the VP said.
