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No fewer than 837 students and youths in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja have received training as part of youth empowerment and food security drive.
The training and induction ceremony bankrolled by the Seyi Tinubu Operation Back to Agriculture Initiative (SOBAI), held recently in Kubwa in Abuja, marked another milestone for the group using agriculture to tackle unemployment and promote self-reliance.
Its National Coordinator, Mr Emmanuel Bidi, in his remarks, explained that 1,121 students registered for the Abuja programme, with 837 completing the training, adding that they are awaiting empowerment support to start their own agricultural enterprises.
He further stated that the vision goes beyond training, with the aim of helping beneficiaries build sustainable businesses that create jobs and contribute to food production.
The Coordinator also disclosed that it has, alongside Praise Agrovet, trained and empowered 64,734 youths since inception across FCT, Nasarawa, Niger, Kogi, Benue and Kano States, in poultry production, fish farming, goat rearing and other value chains.
He said that it plans to establish and activate 34 training centres with programmes accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), targeting 20 million Nigerian youths by 2030.
“We plan to sustain free agricultural training quarterly nationwide and establish SOBAI-branded agricultural farms across the 36 states to serve as research, training and industrial attachment centres, including for NYSC members.
“The initiative stressed the need for quality animal feed, veterinary products and competent personnel to improve livestock health and farm productivity,” he said.
Bidi equally announced a target of mobilising five million votes for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in the 2027 general elections.
“The group would leverage its youth platforms, training programmes and grassroots outreach, in collaboration with the City Boy Movement and other support groups, to drive advocacy and mobilisation,” he said
While clarifying that the five-million-vote figure is a mobilisation target and not a guaranteed electoral outcome, he noted that voting remains a personal choice of eligible citizens and that its empowerment programmes must be administered in line with applicable laws.
“We call on government agencies, private-sector partners, community leaders and youth organisations to support agricultural education and entrepreneurship. We urge young Nigerians to embrace agriculture for job creation and wealth generation,” Bidi advised.
He said the long-term success of SOBAI will depend on effective implementation, transparent administration, partnerships and lawful political engagement.
