The Amaiza Enterprise Company Ltd., in collaboration with key partners, has trained at least 100 youths, women and agripreneurs in Niger State on hydroponic farming to enhance food security, create jobs and promote sustainable agricultural practices.
The three-day training, themed “Empowering Youths and Women Through Modern Agriculture,” was organised by Amaiza Enterprise Company Ltd., Nigeria Polytechnic Foundation (NIPOF), Luqknight Limited, and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), in collaboration with the Niger State Agency for Green Initiatives (NG-SAGI).
Speaking at the opening ceremony on Tuesday in Minna, Mr Abubakar Isa-Mariri, Secretary and Legal Adviser of Amaiza Enterprise Company Ltd., said the initiative was designed to equip participants with practical skills in modern soilless farming techniques.
Isa-Mariri said the programme underscored the organisation’s commitment to promoting innovative agricultural practices among youths and women, while repositioning agriculture as a viable source of livelihood.
Also speaking, Dr Babangida Albaba of NIPOF described agriculture as a sector with enormous untapped potential and urged participants to make the most of the opportunity to acquire practical knowledge in hydroponic farming.
He commended the organisers for their commitment to agricultural development and youth empowerment.
In her remarks, Dr Amina Usman, Provost of Fati Lami Institute of Legal and Administrative Studies (FLAILAS), expressed delight that the institution was selected as the pilot centre for the training.
Usman said the institute would integrate lessons from the programme into its agricultural activities and disclosed plans to establish a plant nursery to strengthen practical learning.
Dr Habila Galadima, Director-General of NG-SAGI, said the training aligned with Governor Umaru Bago’s green economy agenda and the state’s agricultural transformation drive.
Galadima noted that the initiative would help address food insecurity and youth unemployment. He added that the state government had earlier trained 360 youths in hydroponic technology.
Also speaking, Niger State Commissioner for Agriculture, Idaho Sidi, described agriculture as the most viable pathway to youth empowerment and economic growth.
Represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Ahmed Matthew, Sidi said the participants would acquire practical knowledge that would make them self-reliant, stressing that dependence on white-collar jobs alone was no longer sustainable.
Earlier, Dr Aisha Adamu, Managing Director of Amaiza Enterprise Company Ltd., said the programme was aimed at unlocking the potential of smart agriculture among youths and women in the state.
According to her, hydroponic farming offers practical solutions to land scarcity, unemployment and farmer-herder conflicts, while supporting sustainable food production.
Participants received practical training on hydroponic system installation, seedling production, nursery management, nutrient application, water conservation techniques, sustainable farming practices and agribusiness development.
