Mkpoikana Udoma
20 November 2017, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt — The Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh (Rtd) has expressed preparedness to collaborate with a Malaysian agricultural research institute, The International Institute of Plantation Management, IIPM, to train amnesty beneficiaries on establishing and managing plantations across the Niger Delta region.
Boroh, who is also the Special Adviser to President Mahammadu Buhari on Niger Delta, wants the Malaysian institute to establish farms and conduct six months practical training courses on cash crops plantation technology and management, for the ex-agitators who are beneficiaries of the the amnesty program, in a bid to generate employment.
Represented by Head, Presidential Amnesty Vocational Training Centre Kaiama, Bayelsa state, Mr. Jude Gbaboyor at a roundtable talk with management of the institute in Malaysia, Boroh expressed readiness to tap into the wealth of experience of the institute to enrich the on-going Presidential Amnesty Agricultural Empowerment Scheme for ex-agitators in the region.
A statement by Piriye Kiyaramo for Head, Media and Communications Department of the Presidential Amnesty Office, said that such knowledge will equip amnesty delegates on the science of plantation management, which would further add value to the beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
Kiyaramo explained that the partner with the Malaysian Instituen which is a credible professional body, representing all sectors of the plantation industry in Malaysia, was in line with President Buhari’s food security agenda for the country.
“We want the institute to deploy its experts to Nigeria to establish ( mixed cluster farms) and conduct six months practical training courses on oil palm plantation technology and management, pineapple, rubber and coconut palm, among other relevant crops.
“With a view to creating thousands of jobs for the teaming unemployed youths in the Niger Delta, particularly the ex-agitator who have been trained in different aspects of agriculture, ranging from aquaculture, poultry, rice, maize, cassava and plantain, among others.
“The Niger Delta region needs to establish and cultivate plantations to create massive jobs, hence, we would want to go into a strategic partnership with the Malaysian institute to train beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty programme in Nigeria, using the existing rubber plantation Farm in the region.
“This is to also enable the trained ex-agitators establish massive plantations across the Niger Delta region in line with President Buhari’s food security agenda for the country,” the statement quoted the Amnesty boss.
The statement also said the Executive Director of IIPM, Mr Halid Boestamam, who took the representative of the presidential aide on a facility tour to some plantations in Malaysia, explained that IIPM excels in the areas of human resource development, training and consultancies, and has provided professional services to more than 4,000 beneficiaries from various organizations across the globe.
Boestamam, said the purpose of its establishing the institute, was to promote knowledge of planting management and to provide a source of authoritative views for communication to government, industry and the community.
He explained that the institute offers professional qualifying examination in plantation management, leading to the award of a diploma in plantation technology and management, certificate in planting Industry Management and Advanced Field Conductor Development.
“The course components of the institute include lectures, tutorials, workshops (Practicals) field visits, case studies, report writing and presentations, with each programme tailored towards the real needs, using the tools of truly professional visiting agents/planting advisors for oil palm and rubber, among others.
“Upon completion, the graduates will be entitled to use the post-nominal title “Certified Planter (CP)”, which would enhance their professional status, credibility and their competency, which is measured at par with Level seven of the Malaysian Occupational Skills Qualification Framework, being an equivalent to a Post Graduate Certificate or Diploma.”
