lawaleojo

The theme of the event was picked from an event held by FANRPAN a few years back. The idea was to help the Agriculture faculty students see the new directions of agriculture from just farming to agribusiness while placing more emphasis on the comfortable and enjoyable life that youth in agriculture can live and enjoy if they do things right.

The theme of the event was picked from an event held by FANRPAN a few years back. The idea was to help the Agriculture faculty students see the new directions of agriculture from just farming to agribusiness while placing more emphasis on the comfortable and enjoyable life that youth in agriculture can live and enjoy if they do things right.

YPARD and IAAS are both youth organizations with agriculture promotion amongst the youths as the core activity.It was thus no surprise that to extend the partnership between both bodies at the global level,YPARD Nigeria and IAAS Nigeria partnered to host the launch of IAAS Chapter at the Ebonyi State University.
The event which took place on July 24th 2015 attracted 150 youths and served as an opportunity for YPARD to be introduced to the university community and the first of its kind in South East Nigeria. YPARD Nigeria was represented by Olawale OJO the Country Representative and Praise Uke , YPARD Nigeria Partnership Officer at the event.

The event kicked off with a brief on the objective of the event by Olawale OJO and thereafter, opening speeches from the National Director of IAAS Nigeria, the Local Director IAAS EBSU and a presentation about YPARD and the need for the partnership with IAAS by Praise Uke followed.

The afternoon session served as an avenue for the participant to interact with four members of the University’s Faculty of Agriculture. These members shared their experiences on how they got into the Agricultural sector getting into the Ag sector which presented an opportunity to the participants to reflect and see the need for them to continue and take seriously their presence in the Ag sector.

In the year 2016 and beyond, YPARD Nigeria and IAAS will jointly co-host other event locally helping them reach out to more young professionals and also influence the need for change for a fast changing agricultural sector in Nigeria.

• Think Big with a business plan and entrepreneurial advice from Banks, consultants but always start small, within the capacity you can afford and handle
• Be well informed about the aspect of agriculture you want to go into especially the risks involved and the market value of product at each stage of the value chain.
• Network with other young people. There are a lot of youth out there who are already into agriculture. Attend Seminars and workshop on agriculture and agribusiness even if you have to pay.
• Acquire practical knowledge. Read books, manuals, journals and work for others on their farms to gain experience and exposure.
• Get training in business planning, marketing and management it has proved very helpful because a major challenge of most agriculturists in Nigeria is their inability to build a business plan and market to their products.
• Be observant and open to new information, techniques etc.
• Be ready to be a team player, most aids from the government and the Bank of Agriculture sometimes require you are in a group of ten or there about. So start watching out for young people you can join hands and work together
• Follow the trend of activities around you to get updated about opportunities open to you through programs like YOUWIN, FADAMA, Agric Growth Enhancement Scheme(GES), First Bank Farm Scheme and others that would be coming on soon under the Agric transformation agenda.

First published in the Nigerian Tribune of 19th June 2012 under the Column Wealth Creation through Agriculture.