The Nigeria Institute of Animal Sciences (NIAS) has trained and presented 60 sheep to 30 pastoralists as a way of empowering them for better livelihood.
The empowerment programme is under the Institute’s Empowerment of Vulnerable Group in selected Livestock Production Value Chain in Pastoralists Communities in Gombe State.
Registrar of the NIAS, Professor Eustace Iyayi, was represented by Dr Babatunde Fola Adebayo, Head of Training and Internship of the Institute, during the training and presentation of the sheep and starter packs to the beneficiaries at the Education Resource Centre Gombe.
He said the 30 beneficiaries who consist of thirteen (13) women, were each given a good breed of a male and female sheep to rare and multiply over time and grow their own businesses. So that it will be another source of income for them.
He cautioned them against selling off the sheep, stressing that, “we hope they will go home and multiply these animals so that they can turn to a form of business for you because we know we are giving you good breeds”
He said part of the monitoring process of the beneficiaries by NIAS is that they would be engaged consistently. “We have the data of the beneficiaries. If they have any technical problems rearing the animals, we’ll help them solve the problems even at our end.
“We have an intelligent and hardworking zonal development officer, Mr Ismaila, who is going to ensure proper monitoring process”, he stated.
The Permanent Secretary in the Gombe State Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Dr Ibrahim Yakubu, was also present at the event and cautioned them against giving the animals medication without professional supervision.
Dr Babawuro Yahaya, from the Department of Animal Sciences, Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State, lectured the beneficiaries on modern practices in rearing sheep and goats.
Apart from the sheep, the beneficiaries were also presented with two 50kg of animal feeds as well as 5kg of sortlicks as starter packs.
