In a bid to tackle the challenge of high youth unemployment and cultivate economic opportunities in Nigeria, the Africa Projects Development Centre (APDC), in collaboration with the African Agribusiness Incubators Network (AAIN), and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Youth Agripreneurs (IYA), has unveiled the “Creating Sustainable Youth MSMEs Through Urban Farming (SYMUF) Project 2024”.
The SYMUF project sets out with a mission to empower young individuals with a passion for urban agriculture, providing them with tools and knowledge needed to thrive in the sector. With a focus on city-based graduate youth and early startup Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), the project aims to foster growth through business incubation, access to financial products, and comprehensive agribusiness training.
Key objectives of SYMUF
1. Empowerment through incubation
The project is geared towards empowering city-based graduate youth and early-stage MSMEs by offering business incubation support and facilitating access to financial products, ensuring sustainable growth.
2. Skills development and market access
SYMUF seeks to equip African youth with essential agribusiness technical skills, knowledge, cutting-edge technologies, and valuable market networks, providing them with a competitive edge in the dynamic agricultural landscape.
3. Professional mentorship for success
Recognising the uncertainties and risks inherent in new enterprises, the SYMUF Project places a strong emphasis on providing professional mentorship to guide and support aspiring agripreneurs on their entrepreneurial journey.
The centre is actively targeting youths aged 18-29 years, offering specialised training in poultry, aquaculture, horticulture, mushroom production, and heliculture. This diverse range of skills ensures that participants are well-equipped to explore various facets of the agricultural sector. Young Nigerians passionate about agriculture are invited to seize this transformative opportunity. Interested individuals can apply for free training by clicking the link: SYMUF Project Application – https://bit.ly/SYMUF-Project.
