The National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), with support from the Netherlands Government, have trained over 300 youths in the Owode/Yewa area of Ogun State on innovative technologies for sustainable food solutions.
The 10-day intensive training aimed to equip youths aged 18 to 35 with essential entrepreneurial skills and foster youth participation in agriculture through innovative, climate-smart technologies.
The Director General/CEO of NBRDA, Professor Abdullahi Mustapha commended the partners and facilitators for their commitment to nurturing the next generation of agripreneurs.
He emphasised the importance of the initiative in creating job opportunities, increasing productivity, fostering innovation, and driving overall economic development.
Professor Mustapha, represented by Dr. Henry Oshagbemi, Director of NBRDA’s Bioresources Development Centre in Owode, urged participants to leverage the skills acquired during the training for entrepreneurial ventures that contribute to community growth and national economic development.
The training programme featured a combination of theoretical and practical sessions, focusing on innovative technologies for sustainable food solutions such as Fish Hatchery Techniques, Catfish Growth Out Production, Fish Feed Formulation, Cassava Cultivation, and Business and Marketing Strategies.
Experts from IITA, the Base of Pyramid Innovation Centre, Bopinc Netherlands, and YSJ LTD, an Agricultural Food Processing company in Ibadan, shared their knowledge and insights with the participants. Each participant received valuable training manuals to support their ongoing learning and development.
The programme received positive feedback from the attendees, who expressed gratitude and commitment to utilising their acquired skills to create employment opportunities, enhance food security, and contribute to the nation’s economy.
This initiative marks the first phase of a larger project of IITA’s Youth in Agribusiness (YAS) project aimed at empowering youths, addressing unemployment, and boosting agricultural productivity for economic growth and poverty alleviation.
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