The Africa Projects Development Project (APDC) yesterday 15 April, launched the opening ceremony for two training programs: European Union financed Healthy Diets 4 Africa (HD4A) Cohort 2, and the AfDB financed Creating Sustainable Youths MSMEs through Urban Farming (SYMUF) Cohort 4. Developed in collaboration with prestigious partners like the European Union Commission, African Development Bank, African Agribusiness Incubators Network (AAIN), the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Africa Rice Centre (AfricaRice), among others, these programs aim to tackle unemployment and malnutrition, two of Africa's most pressing challenges for its young population. These initiatives directly contribute to achieving the SDG Goals by 2030. 

Targeted at young people, the programs emphasize discipline, dedication to hands-on training at the demonstration facility, and leveraging the expertise of trainers and mentors to equip participants with the knowledge and skills to become successful agripreneurs.

Dr. Chiji Ojukwu, the Managing Director, APDC, in his welcome address, encouraged trainees to be focused, and disciplined and to actively contribute to the projects' success. He reminded that they should count themselves lucky to be selected among the 38,000 who applied for the very few places open to these initiatives.

Mr. Maaruf Yakub, the Multinational SYMUF Project Coordinator covering  Uganda, the DRC, & Nigeria, and the Centre's Director of Programmes Policy and Partnerships, commended the new trainees on their remarkable achievements. He emphasized the Centre's expectations for dedication and responsible utilization of the program to deliver results and become successful agripreneurs.

Ms. Amaka Chime, the HD4A Living Lab Coordinator at the Centre, highlighted the program's interdisciplinary nature. With over 12 partners in Africa and nine in Europe, it includes specialists in communication, educational institutions, and youth incubation hubs. She expressed hope that the project empowers other nutrition actors like canteens and schools, ultimately contributing to the diversification of Africa's food systems. Additionally, she emphasized the robustt curriculum of the project, which also covers risk management and malnutrition.

The trainees received keynote addresses following a training overview of both projects by Mr. Monday Ademu, the Agripreneur and Incubation Training Lead. Christopher Dafom, a nutrition consultant from the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, who spoke about combating malnutrition through food diversification. Lilian Iwuelu, CEO of GDev Consultancy and Marketing Services Limited, delivered a second keynote address on business modelling, financial linkages, and market access. Past participants were on the ground to testify how the projects have positively changed their lives and made them CEOs of their own companies.

The program concluded with words of encouragement from Pastor S.S. Ajunwon, Senior Consultant to the APDC, and a vote of thanks by Ms. Ifeoma Umeaina, the Centre's Project Administrator.

Industry experts and stakeholders in the Nigerian food and agriculture sector attended the event. Notably, members of the Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Food Security, and Livestock Services team from Abuja were present and received a facility tour conducted by the management.

The Centre is eager to see what the future holds for these exceptional trainees and looks forward to being a part of their journey to becoming successful agripreneurs.

#Agribusiness #Youthempowerment #SYMUFProject #EUHD4U #Capacitydevelopment #SkillsBuilding