The 19th Assembly of the IITA Corps Member Association (ICA) held a weeklong symposium at the IITA headquarters from 10 to 15 November, marking the beginning of a series of activities dedicated to youth development, skills strengthening, and mindset transformation.
Zaina Sore, Head of the IITA Capacity Development Office (IITA-CDO), emphasized the importance of resilience among youth in her address, highlighting how agriculture has created numerous opportunities for them. She encouraged corps members to continue exploring prospects within the agricultural sector, urging them to take initiative even while still on campus. “While you are on campus, identify areas where you can contribute; no contribution is too small,” she remarked, stressing that every effort counts toward building a stronger, sustainable future.
Dr Abdoulaye Tahirou, IITA Deputy Director General Partnership for Delivery, delivered his goodwill message during the symposium, commending the executives for their initiatives. He highlighted the significance of the program’s theme and encouraged corps members to embrace hard work as the key to achieving their goals. He urged participants to bring forward their ideas to their respective supervisors rather than merely treating their service year as a temporary obligation. “IITA is not just a place you spend a year in; make the most of the opportunities available to you,” he stated, emphasizing that proactive engagement and initiative are essential for personal and professional growth.
Adepeju Abdulazeez, a representative of the Akinyele Local Government expressed appreciation to the IITA management for their continued support in mentoring corps members. She highlighted the program’s theme, “From service year to success,” and urged participants to view their service year as a springboard for greater achievements rather than merely a period to observe. “Don’t just pass through NYSC; make NYSC pass through you,” she emphasized, encouraging corps members to actively engage, learn, and leverage their experiences for long-term personal and professional growth.
Helen Adeniji, Organizational Development Manager at IITA, emphasized the role of agriculture, technology, and entrepreneurship in building resilience among youth. She noted that resilience is not innate but a potential that must be cultivated from within. Discussing the theme, she described the service year as a transformative period, urging corps members to take charge of their development. “You are not here by chance; you are here to tap into the numerous agribusiness opportunities and the value chain IITA has to offer,” she stated. She further encouraged participants: “You have within you what you need to succeed, and resilience should start from within,” she added.
The 19th President, Ayomide Salawu, also inspired fellow corps members to make agriculture innovative and accessible by maximizing modern technology. He emphasized that technology provides endless opportunities to improve lives, while entrepreneurship empowers young people to generate ideas, create opportunities, and drive sustainable growth. He urged participants to focus on building a future that is resilient, inclusive, and sustainable, highlighting the role of innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship in shaping a prosperous and impactful service year.
Dr Kayode Awobajo, Head of IITA Project Development and Administration, in his address, emphasized the program’s theme and highlighted the significant impact of the service year in developing an entrepreneurial mindset and essential skills. He noted that the service year should serve as a bridge to the future, urging corps members not to wait passively for opportunities but to actively create solutions at all times. “Your success starts from the mind,” he stressed, encouraging participants to adopt a proactive approach toward personal and professional growth.
The Vice President, Susan Giwa, during the closing remarks appreciated everyone for their presence, and implored corps members to kindle the spark of possibility. “Let’s turn our service into success stories, our ideas into industries, and our passion into progress,” she concluded.
Contributed by Alice Omoteji
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