The Oyo State Government, through the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme, held a two-day capacity-building training for youths on agribusiness and entrepreneurship as part of efforts to tackle unemployment, promote self-reliance and stimulate economic growth.
The training, held at Pinnacle Hotel along Arapaja Road, Odo Ona Kekere, Ibadan, is funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) under the SAPZ initiative, which is designed to equip young people with entrepreneurial, technical and financial skills needed to succeed across the agricultural value chain.
Speaking at the opening of the workshop, the State Project Coordinator of SAPZ, Mr. Ajetunmobi Akinwumi, said the programme was aimed at addressing the challenge of youth unemployment by preparing participants for opportunities in commercial agriculture and agribusiness.
According to him, despite several government interventions, many young people still lack the practical knowledge, entrepreneurial mindset and financial literacy required to establish and sustain successful enterprises.
“Youth unemployment remains one of the most pressing socio-economic challenges facing Nigeria. Oyo State has a rapidly growing youth population, but the availability of formal employment has not kept pace with demand,” Akinwumi said.
He explained that the training would provide participants with practical knowledge in agribusiness planning, sustainable farming practices, financial management and entrepreneurship, enabling them to become employers of labour rather than job seekers.
Akinwumi noted that the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde has repositioned agriculture from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture through agribusiness and agricultural industrialisation, describing the sector as a critical driver of economic growth and wealth creation.
He added that the SAPZ programme seeks to establish agro-industrial processing zones in major food-producing areas while empowering smallholder farmers, agro-processors, traders, women and youths to leverage emerging market opportunities.
The coordinator further explained that participants would receive training covering production, processing, value addition, logistics, packaging, marketing and distribution within the agricultural value chain.
He expressed confidence that the participants would leave the workshop with practical agribusiness skills, improved financial literacy, exposure to modern agricultural technologies and stronger market linkages with processors and buyers.
Also speaking, the Executive Chairman of Oluyole Local Government, Engr. Akeem Olatunji, described the training as a vital foundation for successful agribusiness, stressing that knowledge remains the most valuable asset for wealth creation and sustainable employment.
He observed that government alone could not provide jobs for the nation’s growing population, urging young people to embrace entrepreneurship as a pathway to economic independence.
“Without adequate knowledge, there is no way anyone can create jobs or become a successful entrepreneur. This capacity-building programme is equipping our youths with the knowledge required to establish businesses and become self-sustaining,” Olatunji said.
He encouraged participants to maximise the opportunity, noting that agriculture offers greater economic potential than Nigeria’s long-standing dependence on crude oil.
The council chairman disclosed that Oluyole Local Government had recently secured about 750 acres of land, which would be made available to interested beneficiaries to apply the knowledge acquired during the training.
“I believe government will also support them financially, but what matters most is the knowledge they are receiving here today. Knowledge is power, and it can transform them into employers of labour,” he added.
One of the participants, Bamigboye Tobi, a final-year student of the University of Ibadan who engages in cassava and goat farming, described the workshop as a valuable opportunity to expand his agribusiness.
Tobi said he travelled from the University of Ibadan to attend the programme because of its potential to improve his entrepreneurial capacity.
“I see this training as a great opportunity to expand beyond my current level of farming and become an employer of labour. I believe I will be equipped with the skills and financial knowledge required to grow my business, and from what I have seen so far, I am confident I will leave with valuable knowledge that will positively impact my future,” he said.
The SAPZ programme is being implemented in Oyo State as part of a broader collaboration involving the Federal Government, the African Development Bank and participating states to promote agricultural industrialisation, create employment opportunities for young people and strengthen food security through commercial agriculture.
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