The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has launched an agribusiness and organic farming training programme in Nigeria to equip 300 young entrepreneurs with the skills to turn agriculture into profitable ventures, reduce unemployment, and boost regional exports.
The initiative, under the ECOWAS Youth Employability Programme (YEP), was inaugurated at the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Abuja. It is coordinated by the Association of Organic Agriculture Practitioners of Nigeria (NOAN) with support from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
Professor Jude Obi, NOAN President, described the programme as a defining moment for Nigeria’s agricultural sector. He said it will provide participants with practical agribusiness skills while linking them to markets, cooperatives, and digital platforms that can scale their enterprises.
Over 14,000 applications were received, with 300 participants selected nationwide. Sixty-two per cent are aged 26–35, and 44 per cent are university graduates seeking sustainable opportunities in agriculture. Nearly 67 per cent already have some experience in farming.
Their focus areas reflect a business mindset: 36.7 per cent chose biological input production (such as biofertilizers and biopesticides), 32.7 per cent selected organic crop diversification with sesame and ginger standing out for export potential, while 30.6 per cent will focus on vegetative propagation of high-value crops.
Mr. Gle Koffi Emmanuel from the ECOWAS Commission said the initiative aligns with a broader strategy to cut youth unemployment by 75 per cent by 2030 and make agriculture attractive to the region’s growing youth population. ECOWAS has committed over US$2.2 million between 2024 and 2025 to support training centres across West Africa.
The Permanent Secretary of Nigeria’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, represented by Deputy Director Idowu Stephen Akintunde, described the programme as a model for repositioning agriculture as a business. He assured that the ministry will provide policy support, extension services, and market linkages to help the trainees succeed.
With a strong focus on organic farming, export-oriented crops, and digital skills, the initiative is expected to produce a new generation of agripreneurs who can tap into billion-dollar markets, create jobs, and contribute to regional food security.
