Young Nigerian graduates with a passion for agriculture are invited to apply for the ECOWAS Youth Employability Project (ECOWAS-YEP), a regional initiative implemented by the Association of Organic Agriculture Practitioners of Nigeria (NOAN).
The programme is designed to accelerate the transformation of Nigeria’s agro-sylvo-pastoral heuristics sector by harnessing youth potential in agri-food value chains.
Its overarching goal is to foster economic growth through job creation, skills development, and the professional integration of young people—particularly women and marginalised groups—while also helping curb unemployment and irregular migration.
Programme Benefits
Successful participants will gain hands-on training and certifications in key areas of sustainable agriculture, including:
-
Certification in Organic Agriculture
-
Business Plan Development & Scaling
-
Cooperative Development
-
Record Keeping
-
Compost Production
-
Organic Pesticide Creation
-
Liquid Fertilizer Formulation
-
Potato Vine Cultivation
-
Vegetable Crop Production
-
Yam Set Preparation
-
Sesame Cultivation Techniques
-
Ginger Production & Value Addition
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify, applicants must:
-
Be Nigerian citizens aged between 18 and 35 years
-
Demonstrate a strong interest in agriculture, especially organic farming
-
Women and individuals from marginalized groups are strongly encouraged to apply
Programme Structure
The ECOWAS-YEP programme is divided into four structured modules:
Module 1: General Courses (Mandatory for All Trainees)
-
Mode: Online
-
Duration: 1 month
-
Topics: Organic agriculture certification, business plan development, cooperative formation, and record keeping
Module 2: Training on Input Production
-
Location: Ibadan
-
Duration: 2 months (2 weeks physical, 6 weeks virtual)
-
Topics: Compost production, organic pesticide, and liquid fertilizer formulation
Module 3: Training on Vegetables, Vines, and Yam Sets
-
Location: Umudike, Abia State
-
Duration: 5 months (8 weeks physical, 12 weeks virtual)
-
Topics: Potato vines, vegetable crops, and yam set production
Module 4: Training on Sesame and Ginger Value Chains
-
Location: Zaria
-
Duration: 6 months (8 weeks physical, 16 weeks virtual)
-
Topics: Sesame and ginger production, value addition techniques
How to Apply
Interested candidates should complete the online application by visiting here.
Application Deadline: August 16, 2025
The ECOWAS Youth Employability Project (ECOWAS-YEP) is inviting young Nigerian graduates interested in agriculture to apply. Implemented by the Association of Organic Agriculture Practitioners of Nigeria, the programme aims to revamp Nigeria's agro-sylvo-pastoral sector by leveraging youth talents in agri-food value chains. The initiative focuses on economic growth via job creation, skill development, and integrating young people—especially women and marginalized groups—into professional roles to reduce unemployment and irregular migration.
Participants will receive hands-on training and certification in sustainable agriculture topics such as organic agriculture, business plan development, and compost production. Eligibility requires Nigerian citizenship, aged 18-35, with a strong interest in organic farming, particularly encouraging applications from women and marginalized groups. The programme comprises four structured modules covering organic certification, input production, vegetable and yam set training, and sesame and ginger value chain training, conducted across various locations and varying durations.
Interested candidates must apply online by August 16, 2025. This program provides a comprehensive framework for young Nigerians to enhance their skills and contributions to the agricultural sector, promoting sustainable economic development.
