Empowering Nigerian Youths through Horticulture: The Success of NIHORT’s HAY Program
In a country grappling with high youth unemployment rates, the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) in Nigeria has taken a proactive step to address this challenge through its Horticultural Academy for Youths (HAY) program. This initiative, under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, seeks to empower young Nigerians with practical skills and knowledge in horticulture, offering them a path to self-sufficiency and employment opportunities.
Youth Unemployment in Nigeria
Nigeria has been grappling with a significant challenge of youth unemployment for years. The statistics are stark, with an estimated youth unemployment rate of nearly 19.61 percent in 2021, as reported by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). This issue has been exacerbated by factors such as the recent hike in petrol prices, which has increased the financial strain on families with unemployed youth.
Agriculture as a Solution
Recognizing the potential of agriculture to address youth unemployment, NIHORT embarked on the HAY program. Agriculture has a rich history in Nigeria and continues to contribute substantially to the country’s GDP. However, many youths do not consider agriculture as a viable career option until they are provided with scientific and technical guidance on successful agricultural practices.
HAY’s Inception and Goals
HAY is NIHORT’s direct response to the youth unemployment challenge. The program began in January and concluded in August, spanning eight months. Dr. Lawal Attanda, the Executive Director of NIHORT, initiated this project with a clear goal of empowering youth.
The program’s initial focus was on vegetable production, specifically targeting short-duration crops suitable for individuals with limited land resources. Participants were introduced to various aspects of horticulture, including production, marketing, and distribution. NIHORT’s expertise and resources were harnessed to provide participants with practical experience.
Selecting and Training Participants
Dr. Olutola Oyedele, the director of Research at NIHORT and project coordinator for HAY, ensured a gender-balanced selection of trainees, with a focus on youth from the institute’s “catchment area” and a few from outside. Thirty participants were selected for the training, although two dropped out due to academic commitments.
The program exposed participants to hands-on farming experiences in both lowland (dry season) and upland (rainfed) cultivation. They were provided with land plots and farm inputs to facilitate their learning. One notable feature of the program was the continuous supervision and mentoring provided to the trainees, akin to an apprentice learning from a master artisan.
Financial Support and Learning Outcomes
To ease the financial burden on participants, NIHORT provided a transportation stipend. The institute’s farm lands served as the project site, ensuring practical knowledge transfer. Trainees were guided through the entire production cycle, from planting to harvest, and were exposed to various horticultural technologies developed by NIHORT.
Testimonials and Future Prospects
Trainees hailed the HAY program for providing them with valuable skills and knowledge. They expressed confidence in their ability to succeed in horticulture and appreciated the program’s practical approach.
Aishat Zakariyah, a trainee studying Accounting, noted that she won’t be jobless after school, thanks to her newfound horticultural skills. Nurudeen Akanbi, a former livestock farmer, marveled at how quickly he could make something out of horticulture. Opeoluwa Samuel, a missionary pastor, praised the initiative and emphasized the need for investors to support agriculture, recognizing its potential to transform the economy and engage youth productively.
The Way Forward
Despite the program’s success, funding remains a challenge for its continuation and expansion. NIHORT intends to scale up the project and increase the number of trainees if funding becomes available. The institute’s commitment to empowering Nigerian youth through horticulture is evident, and the HAY program serves as a shining example of how targeted training and support can alleviate youth unemployment and drive economic transformation.
The success of HAY underscores the importance of investing in skill development and education, particularly in sectors like agriculture, which have the potential to empower individuals and boost national prosperity. With continued support, initiatives like HAY can pave the way for a brighter future for Nigerian youth and the country as a whole.
