By Philomina Attah
The Yobe State Government say retirement should not be seen as the end of productive life, but as an opportunity to begin a new chapter.
The Head of Service of Yobe, Alhaji Abdullahi Musa, said this at the opening of a five-day pre-retirement training for civil servants in the state.
The programme, which held at CSS Global Integrated Farms, Gora, Nasarawa State, was organised by the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in collaboration with CSS Farms and the Yobe State Government.
Musa, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Public Service, Alhaji Ahmadu Babi, urged participants to take advantage of the practical training to acquire skills that would provide sustainable livelihoods and enhance financial independence after retirement.
He said the training, which focused on animal husbandry, fish farming and food processing, was designed to equip prospective retirees with agribusiness skills for life after active service.
Earlier, the Chairman of CSS Farms, Prof. John Kennedy Opara, said the enterprises were selected because they could be started on a small scale, including at the backyard level.
Opara, who was represented by the Training Coordinator, Dr Victor Umunnakwe, urged participants to engage actively in the practical sessions to enable them establish agricultural ventures even before retirement.
Also, the Director-General of NDE, Mr Silas Agara, said the initiative was aimed at promoting self-employment by exposing would-be retirees to viable opportunities across the agricultural value chain.
Agara was represented by the Chief Enterprise Development Officer, Mr Abba Adamu.(NAN)
Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman
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