News in brief:
-Â The Youth in Agribusiness (YAS) project, funded by the Netherlands and implemented by the IITA, has been launched in Nigeria.
– It focuses on empowering young people and women in agriculture, aiming to create 10,000 jobs, establish agribusiness hubs, and enhance sustainable and inclusive growth in the sector through innovative technologies and improved business practices.
A new initiative, the Youth in Agribusiness (YAS) project, has been launched in Nigeria. The project aims to empower young people and women in the agricultural sector, while driving sustainable economic growth.
The project is funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands and implemented by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). It aligns with the Dutch government’s multi-annual country strategy (MACS) for Nigeria, which emphasises diversification and job creation through a sustainable and inclusive agri-food sector.
Key objectives of the project, according to news coverage, include job creation for 10,000 youths between ages 18 and 35, with focus on gender inclusivity. It also targets establishing four innovative agribusiness hubs across the Federal Capital Territory, Kano, Oyo, and Ogun States, as well as fostering the development of sustainable and profitable agribusiness enterprises.
The project seeks to achieve these goals through innovative technologies and improved business practices. Ultimately, it will empower youth and women, enhance market access and contribute to the overall growth and resilience of the Nigerian agricultural sector.
Furthermore, the project launch aims to promote collaboration, celebrate achievements and boost motivation by inspiring young agripreneurs to pursue successful careers in the agriculture sector.
The YAS project contributes to the Netherlands government’s strategy for sustainable food systems and nutrition security, ultimately aiming to achieve SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) by 2030.
