The Nigerian agriculture sector is set to benefit from a new partnership between Nourishing Africa, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council and Riby. Over a six-month period, 15 000 agripreneurs will be trained about the dynamics of the export sector.
An earlier PWC report found that currently Nigeria’s top agricultural exports are sesame seeds, cashew nuts, fermented cocoa beans and high-quality raw cocoa beans. As much as 95% of this country’s sesame output is exported.
Applications are now being accepted for the Youth in Agri-food Export Development Programme (YAEDP). The programme is inviting agripreneurs between 25 and 40 years old. A Nourishing Africa spokesperson tells Food For Mzansi it will provide training, market linkages and digital support to young entrepreneurs and co-operative leaders in the Nigerian agri-food sector.
To be eligible, agripreneurs must meet the following criteria:
- Be a Nigerian agripreneur and/or agro-cooperative leader who is looking to export their produce.
- Applicants’ businesses must be located in the priority states in the country.
- Applicants must produce and/or sell food products in the priority value chains.
- The business must have been operational for at least one year.
Participants in the programme will include entrepreneurs and cooperative leaders in the agri-food sector across ten states in Nigeria. These include Abia, Adamawa, Cross River, Edo, FCT, Kano, Lagos, Kogi, Ogun and Oyo.
Qualifying value chains
Those who wish to apply must also work within one or more of the following value chains: spices, shea butter, cashew, ginger, rubber cassava, soybean and cocoa.
“The YAEDP aims to ensure inclusiveness, hence, we strongly encourage applications from women and underrepresented youth such as those with disabilities,” says Nourishing Africa in a media release. “Applicants are to note that this programme does not provide grants to participants. Application and participation in the programme are free of charge.”
It is also important for applicants to note that the programme is not eligible for businesses that are in the idea stage. The programme is designed to support already-existing agri-food businesses that are interested in exporting their goods.
The organisation also makes it clear that businesses applying need not yet be part of Nourishing Africa to apply and potentially be selected. Those who apply also do not need to have an export licence.
If you wish to apply, click here.
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