FG, World Bank train 300 youths on agribusiness for self-reliance, food security
The Federal Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with the World Bank, has launched a nationwide youth empowerment and skills development initiative aimed at transforming the country’s agrifood landscape.
The programme, which officially began on October 27, 2025, at CSS Global Integrated Farms in Gora, Nasarawa State, will train 300 young Nigerians in fisheries, poultry, and animal husbandry as part of the Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills, Technical, Vocational, and Entrepreneurship Training (IDEAS-TVET) project.
The training, designed to tackle food insecurity and youth unemployment, combines a three-month intensive course with a three-month internship, ensuring participants gain both technical expertise and practical business exposure.
Governor Abdullahi Sule, represented by his deputy Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, described the programme as a proactive step by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to empower the next generation through agriculture. “A productive youth population translates to a safer, more prosperous nation,” Akabe noted.
Mrs. Blessing Ugwu, the National Coordinator of the IDEAS Project, reaffirmed the government’s resolve to equip young Nigerians with future-ready skills, while urging trainees to seize the opportunity to become innovators and entrepreneurs.
Meanwhile, Professor John Kennedy-Opara, Chairman of CSS Integrated Farms, emphasized that the training will not only transform lives but also elevate Nigeria’s image globally as a source of skilled agripreneurs and sustainable agribusiness models.
Through its partnership with the World Bank, the IDEAS-TVET project aligns with Nigeria’s goal to modernize its Technical, Vocational, and Entrepreneurship Training (TVET) system — a key pillar for achieving food security, job creation, and sustainable development.
Source: Tribune
Expert Review for Agri-Food Stakeholders
The IDEAS-TVET initiative represents a crucial intervention at the intersection of youth development, food security, and agribusiness transformation. Its design, which combines technical skill-building with entrepreneurship, addresses systemic gaps in Nigeria’s agricultural workforce and value chain participation.
- Bridging the Skills Gap in Agribusiness
Nigeria’s agricultural sector continues to face a mismatch between available labour and the technical skills required for modern production systems. The IDEAS-TVET programme directly responds to this gap, creating a new generation of hands-on professionals in fisheries, poultry, and livestock — three sectors central to Nigeria’s protein and export markets. - Youth Empowerment as a Security and Economic Strategy
By engaging young people in agribusiness, the government is addressing not only unemployment but also broader social issues such as rural-urban migration and youth restiveness. Skill acquisition linked to practical enterprise is a proven pathway to social stability and inclusive growth. - Strengthening Nigeria’s Food Security Architecture
With growing concerns about food inflation and supply deficits, building a skilled base of producers in animal protein value chains is strategic. Empowering trained youth to drive production efficiency and innovation will support national food sufficiency goals and reduce dependence on imports. - Partnership Model for Sustainable Impact
The collaboration between the Federal Government, the World Bank, and private-sector implementers like CSS Integrated Farms demonstrates a workable model for scaling agricultural capacity-building. Such partnerships ensure both technical credibility and sustainability beyond donor funding. - Linking TVET to Agribusiness Innovation
The integration of entrepreneurship and vocational training under the IDEAS framework reflects a shift from job-seeking to job-creation. This approach could serve as a blueprint for embedding agribusiness innovation into Nigeria’s formal education and training systems.
In summary, the IDEAS-TVET project is more than a youth training scheme — it is a structural reform tool aimed at positioning Nigeria’s agricultural sector as a magnet for investment, innovation, and inclusive employment. Its success will depend on continuity, private-sector linkages, and post-training enterprise support for participants.
