OCP Africa, one of the leading companies in the global production and exportation of phosphate-based fertilizers, in its quest to empower African youths by facilitating their participation in the business of Agriculture partnered with the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) to commence the pilot phase of its Empowering African Youths (EMAY) project in Nigeria.
Empowering African Youth (EMAY) seeks to equip young Nigerians with capabilities to be self-employed and future agriculture-entrepreneurs. The first phase beneficiaries of thirty (30) youths are selected from Sokoto, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Niger, and Bauchi States, having been screened based on criteria ranging from having a certificate in Agriculture, experience with farmer engagement, entrepreneurship drive among others. These participants will undergo bespoke capacity training as developed by the faculty of Agriculture of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University ATBU to enable them function as value creators within the Agriculture value chain.
The Young Leaders – as the youths participating in the EMAY project are called - will be empowered with agronomy technical know-how and agricultural tools, such as mobile digital soil laboratories for soil testing and analysis, Cargo tricycles to reach rural farming communities as last mile retailers of inputs, Electronic Tablets for data gathering using digital solution, and small handheld implements to enable them deliver value to smallholder farmers in rural communities.
Speaking at the commencement of the week-long training held at ATBU, Bauchi, Dr. Donald Madukwe, Head Agronomy for OCP Africa Fertilizers Nigeria Ltd said the participants will undergo specialized training by the credible tertiary institutions of learning, so they become proficient in technical and commercial skills to be able to function as service providers and independent business owners within the Agriculture ecosystem, thereby eking out a means of livelihood for them.
He said that after the training and handing over of the items, the Young Leaders will be supported with monthly stipends for some initial period of time to enable their businesses take root and stabilize until they can become self-sustaining by contributing their quota in creating value to increase agriculture yields and food production for the country.
Dr Madukwe said part of EMAY’s objectives, aside from creating a source of livelihood for the youths in the agricultural sector, is to empower them with the required knowledge needed to be consultants/advisors which will enable them to provide Best Agricultural Practices (BAP), Agronomic and Technical training and support to smallholder farmers in rural communities. The young leaders will be issued Certificates upon completion of training from ATBU.
Talking about future plans with the EMAY project, OCP also intends to increase the numbers of the Young Leaders by additional 60 come 2021, he asserted.
He said the participants will be equipped with sophisticated agro-tools to provide fertilizers and agrochemical recommendations based on soil analysis, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital solutions, adding that they will be given access to farm inputs from the 100 units of OCP One-stop shops currently developed across the country by OCP so that they can supply inputs to smallholder farmers in far rural communities
The Vice-Chancellor, ATBU, Prof. Hamisu Muhammad in his reaction, commended OCP Africa on the initiative saying that this will help increase the participation of youth in agriculture and food production in the country.
In his remark, he wishes the participants all the best and encourages them to be focused and attentive during the training session as knowledge gathered will determine the support and quality of value, they deliver to small holder farmers.