At a demonstration field in Ibadan, a group of young Nigerians is learning to turn waste into wealth — mixing compost, testing soil, and tending small organic gardens. For them, farming has become more than survival; it is now a path to empowerment.
The training, organised by the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) in collaboration with the Network of Organic Agriculture Practitioners of Nigeria (NOAN), is part of a new push to equip young people with practical skills in sustainable agriculture.
Over five days, participants aged 18 to 25 were trained in compost production, soil conservation, and biological input management as part of the ECOWAS Youth Employability Project.
FRIN’s Director-General, Dr Zacharia Yaduma, said the initiative would help young Nigerians build agribusinesses rooted in environmental conservation. “This collaboration is about creating jobs and protecting the planet at the same time,” he said.
Yaduma added that the project, to be implemented across South-West Nigeria, aims to inspire a generation of green entrepreneurs who will boost food security and reduce youth unemployment.
The FRIN–NOAN partnership is expected to serve as a model for future collaborations promoting ecological organic agriculture in the West African sub-region.
