Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) through its Centre of Excellence for Integrated Farming Systems at the Federal Polytechnic Bauchi, has commenced a five-day training for 50 youth and women on broiler chicken production.
At the flag-off ceremony yesterday, the director of TETFundCentre of Excellence Dr. Abdullahi Muhammad, explained that the initiative aimed to equip the participants with income-generating skills that offer quick financial returns.
“Many of our youth are job seekers. This training is designed to help transform them into job creators. Broiler production is a viable option, as birds can be raised and sold within eight weeks, allowing for fast turnover and sustainability,” he explained.
Dr. Muhammad also revealed plans to scale the training across the entire Northeast subregion, urging participants to take full advantage of the opportunity. “This program is not just about knowledge, but about building a livelihood,” he emphasised.
Also speaking, Shamsu Abdullahi, Head of the Mass Communication Department of the Polytechnic, described the training as a form of corporate social responsibility and a critical step toward youth empowerment.
“At a time when government jobs are scarce, it is important to look inward and harness our potential. This training offers both practical and theoretical knowledge to make participants self-reliant and employable,” the HoD said.
For his part, Dr. Musa Adamu, Bauchi State Coordinator of the World Bank-assisted Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project, encouraged youth across the Northeast to take advantage of the initiative and contribute to the growth of the livestock subsector.
He said the L-PRES project in Bauchi focuses on key value chains including sheep, goat, beef, and dairy production, presenting further opportunities for youth engagement.
Declaring the training open, the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Bauchi, Alhaji Sani Usman, expressed appreciation to TETFuND for establishing the only Centre of Excellence in any polytechnic across the Northeast.
Represented by Dr. Dauda Ali, Deputy Director of Academic Planning and Quality Assurance, the Rector called for the expansion of similar training across the region to further boost youth empowerment and economic resilience.
