By Joy Baba-Yesufu
As part of concerted efforts to expose youths to diverse opportunities in agriculture, alleviate unemployment, and bolster agricultural productivity in Nigeria to grow wealth and combat poverty, the Youth in Agribusiness (YAS) project of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has successfully trained 1,918 youths in different parts of the country.
In collaboration with the government of the Netherlands, the YAS project held training sessions for beneficiaries in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Oyo, Kano, and Ogun states.
The beneficiaries, comprising 543 new entrants to agriculture and 1,375 established business owners eager to enhance their knowledge and productivity, underwent ‘comprehensive’ training in the value chains of different commodities, including Poultry, Aquaculture, Horticulture, and Cassava Processing.
The objective was for participants to utilise their acquired knowledge and skills to establish successful enterprises or expand their existing businesses.
In 2023, the project’s inaugural year, the beneficiaries included 463 youths from Ogun State, 473 from the FCT, 476 from Oyo State, and 506 from Kano State.
The training covered the production, processing, marketing, and logistics components of the value chains of various commodities. Classroom teaching and field demonstrations were employed for an overall learning experience.
Beneficiaries were also given the needed support, including access to markets, investors, finance, inputs, as well as coaching and mentoring. They were also educated on how to access finance by YAS implementing partner, Bopinc, a Dutch NGO.
Also, in most of the states, agribusiness hubs have been established, both for the training and post-training activities of trainees. In Kano State, the project established an aquaculture hub with 1,000 jumbo-sized fish, used for the training and currently being used for continued learning by trainees.
The project’s goal is to, among other things, train 10,000 youths between the ages of 18 and 35 in viable, sustainable agribusiness enterprises using innovative climate-smart technologies and business practices that increase income and productivity. The project also aims to encourage the beneficiaries to set up full-scale production and service facilities.
The beneficiaries in the various tracks applauded the free training, which they described as an eye-opener and a much-needed boost to their business and entrepreneurship aspirations.
David Ekene, one of the beneficiaries, visibly elated by the training opportunity, said he had always loved all segments of agriculture and was privileged to be part of the training.
Also, Sanusi Rebecca Titilayo, master’s student in Oyo State, described her training experience as excellent.
This project aims to train 10,000 youths in diverse agricultural value chains; and support the beneficiaries who would contribute to enhancing agricultural productivity, climate resilience, access to services, and food and nutrition in Nigeria.
