By Femi Dansu
The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), on August 17, 2024, hosted the International Youth Day in partnership with HortiNigeria and Heifer International.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Isaac Aiyelaagbe, a key figure in FUNAAB’s agricultural initiatives, emphasised the importance of the programme to the University, highlighting FUNAAB’s dedication to Entrepreneurial Agriculture and its ongoing efforts to bring new partners on board.
With a vast land mass, he stated that FUNAAB was eager to maximise the resources to contribute to food security and industrial raw material production in Nigeria.
Prof. Aiyelaagbe further stated that the University has trained thousands of graduates, adding that reducing the unemployment rate in Nigeria through agriculture was FUNAAB’s priority.
The Guest Speaker, Mr. Adeniran Adeola, CEO of AGROLINKS Ltd, addressed the growing challenges in Nigeria’s economic sector, including rising unemployment and healthcare costs.
He advocated for organic farming as a timely solution, emphasising its benefits for producing healthy food and promoting environmental sustainability.
Another Guest Speaker, Mr. Akinwale Alabi, a renowned agribusiness coach urged young agropreneurs to find their niche within the agricultural value chain, stressing that even small-scale initiatives could lead to significant impact.
Mr. Alabi encouraged all the youths to leverage their current resources to transform Nigeria’s agricultural ecosystem into a multi-million-dollar industry, creating jobs and driving economic growth.
Speaking on the Work, Earn, and Learn Programme (WELP), the Coordinator, Mr. James Fadeyi, said that since 2009, WELP has trained over 247 youths and six university staff, many of whom have gone on to start their organic farming enterprises or work for established farms, even as 17 trainees who completed the 12th Training Cycle collected their certificates.
The event was attended by several notable figures, including Mrs. Yemi Adunoye, Ogun Team Lead for Heifer Nigeria; Mr. Chuba Ezeigwe, Heifer’s Communication Manager; Mrs. Yinka Gbadamosi, Logistics Assistant; Mr. Akinloye Jelili, Admin Assistant, and representatives from HortiNigeria, IFDC, and the broader agricultural community.
