The Kwara State Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Project has organised a capacity-building programme for youths from five Local Government Areas of Kwara State on 12th of August 2026 aimed at equipping them with practical skills for employment and entrepreneurship.
The programme brought together young people from Baruten, Kaiama, Asa, Moro and Ifelodun Local Government Areas, where the SAPZ Project is focused on establishing Agricultural Transformation Centres (ATCs).
The training is designed to prepare youths with relevant skills that will make them employable while also helping aspiring entrepreneurs identify their niche, develop the right skills and establish sustainable businesses along the agricultural and livestock value chain.
The Kwara SAPZ Project is being implemented in partnership with the Islamic Development Bank, Zenith Bank and the Kwara State Government.
In his welcome address, the SAPZ State Project Coordinator Engr. Dr Busari Toyin Isiaka welcomed participants, development partners and other stakeholders to the programme, stressing the importance of youth participation in the agricultural sector.
He noted that the project is prioritising youths in the livestock value chain and expressed the commitment of the SAPZ Project to ensuring that young people are actively involved in the programme and are able to sustain the opportunities and empowerment provided.
The Commissioner for Finance, Dr Hauwa Nuru, in her address, described the capacity-building programme as an important component of the State Governor Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq commitment to transforming agriculture from subsistence activity into a modern and commercially viable sector capable of creating jobs, generating wealth and driving inclusive economic growth.
She noted that agriculture goes beyond food production, stressing the importance of building value chains, creating enterprises, developing skills and opening sustainable opportunities for young people.
According to her the training is expected to equip participants with practical knowledge, technical and entrepreneurial skills that can translate into businesses, employment and sustainable livelihoods.
Dr Nuru urged the participants to take full advantage of the programme by acquiring knowledge, developing networks and identifying business opportunities within Kwara’s growing agro-industrial economy.
She further assured that the state government would continue to work with development partners and the private sector to improve infrastructure, strengthen access to finance, promote enterprise development and create opportunities for young people.
Also speaking at the programme, Dr Adekunle Adedayo Olufemi, a digital farmer, specialise in leadership, mentorship and resilience encouraged the participants to make good use of the opportunity by actively engaging in the training and applying the knowledge acquired to develop sustainable livelihoods.
He urged the youths to embrace innovation and entrepreneurship, stressing the need for them to identify areas of opportunity within the agricultural value chain and develop the skills required to succeed.
The programme is expected to contribute to the development of skilled young people who can either secure employment or create businesses, while strengthening youth participation in the agricultural and livestock value chains across the state.
The organisers expressed optimism that the initiative would produce entrepreneurs and skilled workers capable of contributing meaningfully to Kwara State’s economic growth and agricultural transformation.
