In a bid to address youth unemployment and promote agricultural innovation, the Federal Ministry of Youth Development has concluded the training of 541 young Nigerians in contemporary farming methods.
The participants, drawn from the North East, North West, and North Central regions, gained practical skills in cassava processing, beekeeping, and fisheries during an intensive two-week programme held at the Citizenship and Leadership Training Center (CLTC) in Jos, Plateau State.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Youth Development Minister Comrade, Ayodele Olawande noted that the training was designed to equip young Nigerians with advanced agricultural knowledge and practices to enhance their entrepreneurial skills, as well as inspire greater participation in agriculture.
Represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya, the Minister expressed optimism that the initiative would drive sustainable farming practices and enhance youth employability in the agricultural sector.
“Our aim is to empower Nigerian youth and enable them to maximize their potential,” Olawande stated. “We want them to be job creators, not job seekers.”
The Minister assured participants that the programme would continue, with a focus on empowering young people and aligning with the Ministry’s priority of youth involvement in agriculture.
“I can confidently say that we are actively making progress, and youth in agriculture is a priority in the Ministry of Youth Development. Each year will continue to be better than the last. I have noted all your recommendations and requests,” he said.
Olusanya stressed that the nation’s future lies in the hands of its youth, who constitute over 70 percent of Nigeria’s population.
He underscored the need for investing in young people, noting that they will bear the responsibility of steering the country forward in the future.
In his remarks, the traditional ruler of Jos Izere Chiefdom, HRH Ada Emmanuel Ajik, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for organizing the training program and for the opportunity to be part of the event.