Nigerian Living Lab, APDC Group - We ushered in a new chapter today. The Africa Projects Development Centre proudly hosted the opening ceremony for the fourth cohort of the European Commission's HealthyDiets4Africa (HD4A) training programme and the third cohort of the Nutripreneur Incubation and Training initiative, two programmes at the heart of our response to Africa's triple burden of malnutrition: undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and widespread food insecurity.

Managing Director Dr Chiji Ojukwu opened proceedings, speaking candidly about the road already travelled and the distance still ahead:

"We have trained 9,000 youths and women so far, and by the end of this year we would have trained an additional 1,000. Whilst it is a drop in the ocean, I know it creates a ripple effect. Over 70% have gone on to establish thriving businesses that empower others, and that is precisely the mission. Our programmes are 100% free, and we will not deviate from that mandate. Our aim is to see every single graduate engaged in a productive venture — and we are committed to walking that journey with them."

Thirty-seven trainees have now begun a rigorous ten-week journey combining hands-on technical nutrition training with financial and business management skills. Mary Okwor, HD4A Project Coordinator, and Angela Nnaji, Nutripreneurship Training Manager, each presented overviews of their respective programmes, bringing clarity and purpose to what lies ahead for this cohort. Mr Monday Ademu-Eteh, Youth Incubation & Training Lead, introduced the full curriculum and the facilitators who will deliver it, amongst them Mr Christopher Dafom, Nutritionist & Dietetics Consultant on the HD4A project, who walked the cohort through the nutrition training curriculum in detail.

The programme draws on the expertise of in-house specialists and external consultants from the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), institutions whose involvement ensures the training is grounded in both clinical rigour and practical agricultural application. The curriculum is designed not merely to educate but to equip, arming each participant with the tools to reshape Africa's food systems, ease the strain on overstretched healthcare infrastructure, and unlock economic opportunity for the continent's youth.

The ceremony also drew meaningful private sector commitment. Dr Najib Zakari (CEO, Najib Homes) and Prince Okunlola Abdulkareem A (CEO, Majesty Villa) each pledged a parcel of land to the overall best-performing graduates, a powerful signal of confidence in the talent this programme is built to produce.

Thirty-seven trainees. Ten weeks. One mission. The journey starts today.

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