The Emma Njoku Foundation has launched an initiative against Nigeria’s youth unemployment and food insecurity by training 300 young people in modern agriculture and agribusiness.
The programme, held yesterday at CSS Integrated Farms in Nasarawa State, was designed to equip the participants with the skills to become self-reliant entrepreneurs while contributing to the nation’s food security.
The event witnessed the training of participants in two batches, A and B, with 140 and 160 beneficiaries, respectively, drawn from applicants across the country.
At the opening ceremony, the founder, Dr. Emmanuel Njoku, stressed the significance of the training, which includes raising a new generation of farmers with modern skills that will support the country’s food production value chain while underscoring the initiative’s transformative potential.
He said, “This initiative is about helping people rediscover their potential in agriculture; empowering our youths to become leaders in agribusiness and drivers of economic growth.”
On his part, the programme officer of the foundation, Mr. Ifeanyi Geraad Ihugba, noted that Dr. Njoku’s philanthropic investment demonstrates the critical role of private sector involvement in national development.
“Our goal is to inspire a new generation of farmers who will transform Nigeria’s agricultural landscape and make the country a major food exporter,” he added.
He said, ” The training, fully funded by Emma Njoku Foundation, focuses on greenhouse vegetable irrigation, catfish farming, open-field crop production, poultry, and value addition. Participants also received technology-driven tools, including Tablets, to enhance their learning.”
One of the beneficiaries, Udeh Ifeanyichukwu, expressed his excitement, saying “This training has opened my eyes to the opportunities in agriculture. I now have the skills to grow crops and run a successful agribusiness.”
Other participants, including Dr Nwachukwu Chinemere and Chukwuemeka Francisca, also shared their gratitude.
“I never thought agriculture could be this rewarding. This programme has given me hope and a clear path to a better future,” said Francisca.
Nigeria has over 40 million hectares of arable land, much of it underutilised. By empowering youths with practical agribusiness skills, the foundation aims to boost food production, create jobs, alleviate poverty, and address insecurity linked to unemployment.
The collaboration with CSS Integrated Farms, owned by Professor John Kennedy Opara, underscores the importance of multi-stakeholder partnerships in driving sustainable development.
At the end of the training, participants returned to their communities with new knowledge, enthusiasm, and a renewed determination to transform agriculture into a driver of economic growth.
