The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in partnership with the Association of Organic Agriculture Practitioners of Nigeria (NOAN) has launched a training programme aimed at equipping 300 Nigerian youths with practical skills in agriculture and agribusiness.
The programme, inaugurated yesterday in Abuja is part of the ECOWAS regional strategy on youth employability in the agro-sylvo-pastoral and fisheries sector, seeking to tackle high youth unemployment across the region while promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
Speaking at the opening, director of agriculture and rural development at the ECOWAS Commission, Gle Koffi Emmanuel, said the initiative was designed to harness the potential of West Africa’s young population.
“With more than 60 percent of our regional population under the age of 30, our greatest resource is our youth, this programme will not only create jobs but also transform agriculture into an attractive, sustainable, and profitable venture for the next generation”, he noted.
President of NOAN, Professor Jude Obi, described the programme as a turning point for young Nigerians aspiring to build careers in agriculture.
He explained that participants were carefully selected from a pool of over 14,000 applicants and represent a cross-section of educated, energetic and experienced young people committed to sustainable farming.
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