The National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) recently trained youths on practical ways of making a living through horticulture via its Horticultural Academy for Youths (HAY). PAUL OMOROGBE writes about how this initiative by NIHORT worked out.
It is not news that unemployment in Nigeria is a huge challenge. Thousands of Nigerian youths are churned out as graduates from Nigeria’s higher institutions, both public and private, numbering up to 170.
“We saw the unemployment situation among the youth as an opportunity to invest in our youths in terms of skills knowledge when it comes to horticultural crops production and utilization,” said Dr. Olutola Oyedele, the director of Research at NIHORT and project coordinator for HAY. “In the value chain, we have different niches that individuals can pick up and expand. One can go into production, marketing, or distribution.
According to her, the first instance of this project was focused on production. “We want to enable these youths to become empowered. In production, there is a broad platform. The four cardinal mandates of the institute are in fruits, vegetables, spices, and ornamental plants.
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