Ecobank Nigeria Limited said it is partnering with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), to train and also provide support services to 16,000 Nigerian youths on wealth creation through agriculture.

 

The training, targeted at young Nigerians between the ages of 18-40 years, will cover key areas of specialization including poultry, aquaculture, horticulture, and value addition.

 

Announcing the training partnership in Lagos,  the bank’s Head, Public Sector and Agribusiness, Ms. Ayo Osolake, explained that the training is designed for both digital and physical audiences and is structured into phases.

 

She stated that the first phase,  expected to last for four weeks, will be strictly online, while the second phase, which will be hybrid, will entail practical sessions and farm visits.

 

“As a Pan-African institution, it is important for us to continue to sow the seeds of growth in the communities where we operate, especially among young people who are the future of our nation and in real economy-impacting sectors like Agriculture.

 

“This is at the heart of our partnership with IITA, where we are combining the full scale of our expertise to empower and equip young Nigerians with the prerequisite knowledge for success in Agriculture. Our commitment to helping young people create wealth is unwavering, and we are keen on working with similar-minded stakeholders in other sectors to help nurture the dreams of our youths,” she stated.

 

Osolake further explained that the intent of the  program is to expand the frontiers of agricultural opportunities for Nigerians, especially in terms of research, development and wealth creation.

 

“Now is a great time for anyone considering a future in agriculture to be a part of this training. The structure and areas of specialization have been carefully chosen to boost the capabilities of all attendees.

 

“The training will also cover both theoretical and practical aspects of everything they need to learn.  It is a pleasure to work with a foremost institution like the IITA on this,  seeing that we share similar values.” she stated.

 

Osolake also noted  that the training, open to all account holders of the bank, offers an opportunity to learn new technologies along the focus value chain, build business skills and competencies in agribusiness management, mentoring, and coaching opportunities, linkages to finance, exposure to business plan development, and loan application.