The Nigerian Women for Agricultural Progressive and Development Initiative (NWAPDI) is planning a National Youth in Agriculture Convention to provide opportunities and support for young Nigerians involved in agriculture.
The National Coordinator of NWAPDI, Omolara Svensson, stated that the Convention aims to introduce youth to the numerous opportunities available in the agricultural sector.
“The opportunities are enormous,” Svensson said. “They include access to scholarships in government-owned institutions, affordable funding, and training on cash crops cultivation, processing, and export. There’s also training on fishery and livestock.”
She noted that the agricultural sector is the only one in the country that guarantees sustainable income. She emphasized that now is the time for Nigeria to cultivate future leaders in agriculture because “the future is green.”
“The agricultural sector is actually the only sector where you are guaranteed a sustainable and decent source of income for a lifetime, from cash crops farming to processing, commodity export to livestock, the list is endless,” she said.
Svensson explained that the Convention, scheduled for August 14, 2024, at Merit House in Abuja, is open to youth aged 16 to 35 and can be attended either in person or via webinar.
The theme for the Convention is “Sowing the Seeds of Sustainability.”
According to Svensson, the benefits and opportunities for attending include “100% Government-sponsored scholarships for Federal, State, and polytechnic institutions; Training on how to access affordable local and international funding; Training on Export Market; Training on crops/livestock production and Local/International Networking opportunities.”
The Convention is being organized by NWAPDI in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Bank of Agriculture, Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation, and other partners.