The Centre for African Leaders in Agriculture (CALA), through its Team Resilience Nigeria, has trained 50 youths on soybean tofu processing in Ilorin, Kwara State.
At the end of the two-day training programme, the Centre also equipped the beneficiaries with start-up kits to boost their businesses.
The training which took place at the National Stored Product Research Institute (NSPRI), Ilorin attracted experts from various agricultural sectors.
The Resilience Team lead, Dr Olatundun Kalejaiye, explained that the initiative aimed to train participants on producing high-quality, dehydrated, and well-packaged soybean tofu with a shelf life of at least six months.
She highlighted that soybean is a superior protein alternative to conventional animal sources, making it a crucial solution to combat malnutrition and related health issues in Nigeria.
“The programme is designed to enhance the availability of nutritious soy tofu by establishing 30 hygienically processed soybean tofu enterprises managed by youth entrepreneurs in Kwara State. Additionally, five distribution points will be set up across the state to support these agripreneurs, ensuring broader market access.
“The participants will be grouped into clusters and provided with ongoing support and upgrades to their skills and businesses,” she said.
In partnership with NSPRI, Kwara State Ministry of Agriculture/ADP, the Soybean Farmers Association of Nigeria (SOFAN), NAFDAC, and other relevant NGOs, the initiative seeks to empower young entrepreneurs in the region.
The training included practical sessions led by Engr. Kamaldeen Salaudeen of NSPRI’s Post-Harvest Engineering department, who demonstrated how to produce quality soybean tofu.
The event, themed, “Enhancing Access to Nutritious Soybean Tofu Through Product Optimization and Youth Empowerment in Kwara,” underscores CALA’s dedication to addressing food security and promoting youth entrepreneurship in Nigeria.
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