Young Nigerians passionate about agriculture now have a chance to boost their skills and enter the agri-food value chain through the free ECOWAS Youth Employability Project (ECOWAS-YEP).
This opportunity, which targets those interested in Agro-Sylvo-Pastoral Heuristics (ASPH), is implemented by the Association of Organic Agriculture Practitioners of Nigeria (NOAN).
The program is designed to accelerate growth in the ASPH sector and improve the country’s agri-food systems using the potential of young Nigerians. It is part of the broader ECOWAS Strategy on Youth Employability.
“The project aims to support the socio-professional integration of young men and women, especially in agro-related businesses, to reduce unemployment and curb irregular migration,” said a statement from NOAN.
Participants will receive free training that combines online learning and physical sessions in select cities including Ibadan, Umudike, and Zaria. The training covers topics in organic farming, agribusiness development, and value chain processing, helping youths gain digital marketing skills and business knowledge for long-term success.
Below are the different training courses and their locations:
i. Module 1: General Courses (Compulsory for all Trainees)
Location: Online
Duration: 1 month
Course Content: Certification in Organic Agriculture, Business plan development and scaling, Cooperative development and Record keeping
ii. Module 2: Training on Input Production
Location: Ibadan
Duration: 2 months
Mode: 2 weeks physical and 6 weeks virtual
Course Content: Compost making, Pesticides and Liquid fertilizer production
iii. Module 3: Training on Vegetable, Vines and Yam sets
Location: Umudike, Abia State
Duration: 5 months
Mode: 8 weeks physical and 12 weeks virtual
Course Content: Potatoes vine, Vegetable crops and yam sett production
iv. Module 4: Training on Sesame and Ginger value chain
Location: Zaria
Duration: 6 months
Mode: 8 weeks physical and 16 weeks virtual
Course Content: Sesame and ginger production
Training Highlights:
i. Hands-on training in agroecology and sustainable farming
ii. Business plan development and digital marketing skills.
iii. Mentorship, seed funding, and market linkages.
iv. Networking opportunities with industry experts and peers.
Eligibility:
1. Youth aged 18–35 with an interest in agriculture.
2. Women and marginalized groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
The application deadline is August 16, 2025.
How to apply:
Interested applicants should submit their applications via this Link.