The Seyi Tinubu Operation Back to Agriculture Initiative (SOBAI) has trained 837 young people at its Kubwa centre in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), equipping them with practical agricultural skills to promote entrepreneurship, create employment opportunities and strengthen food production in Nigeria.
The training and induction ceremony was organised to encourage young Nigerians to consider agriculture as a viable pathway to business development, financial independence and economic participation.
SOBAI National Coordinator Emmanuel Bidi disclosed that 1,121 candidates registered for the Abuja programme, while 837 successfully completed the training. The beneficiaries are expected to receive further empowerment support to help them establish their own agricultural enterprises.
According to Bidi, the initiative is designed to go beyond skills acquisition by preparing participants to establish sustainable businesses and contribute to different segments of the agricultural value chain.
He also revealed that SOBAI, in partnership with Praise Agrovet, has trained and empowered 64,734 young people across the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Niger, Kogi, Benue and Kano states since the initiative began.
The programme covers several agricultural activities, including poultry production, fish farming, goat rearing and other areas of agricultural production. These sectors provide opportunities for young entrepreneurs to develop businesses, supply food products and support local economic activity.
As part of its expansion plans, SOBAI intends to establish and activate 34 agricultural training centres across Nigeria, with programmes expected to receive accreditation from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). The initiative has set a target of reaching 20 million Nigerian youths by 2030.
Bidi said the organisation also plans to sustain free agricultural training programmes every quarter across the country. In addition, it intends to establish branded farms in all 36 states to serve as research, training and industrial attachment centres.
The proposed farms are expected to provide practical learning opportunities for young farmers and members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), helping them gain experience in agricultural production and enterprise development.
The coordinator also emphasised the importance of quality animal feed, veterinary products and competent personnel in improving livestock health and farm productivity. He noted that these factors are essential for effective livestock management and the long-term sustainability of agricultural businesses.
Bidi called on government agencies, private-sector organisations, community leaders and youth groups to support agricultural education and entrepreneurship. He encouraged young Nigerians to embrace agriculture as a means of generating income, creating jobs and contributing to national development.
The initiative comes amid growing efforts to address youth unemployment and strengthen Nigeria’s food production capacity. Expanding access to practical agricultural training could help more young people participate in farming, processing and other activities across the agricultural value chain.
However, translating training into sustainable businesses will also require access to finance, equipment, land, markets and continued technical support for beneficiaries.
Through its planned training centres, quarterly programmes and proposed agricultural farms, SOBAI aims to expand youth participation in agriculture and contribute to the development of Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
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