IITA, Ekimiks organise training for youth agripreneurs

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in collaboration with Ekimiks Nigeria Limited and L.A Consult are organizing a five day agribusiness training for youth in Nigeria and other African countries under the framework of IITA Youth Agripreneurs (IYA).

The training is a follow up to the first phase of training on Agripreneurial and business management organised by Ekimiks Nigeria Limited for IITA Youth Agripreneurs (IYA) in 2015.

The training is part of efforts by IITA and partners to engage youths in agriculture as several countries on the continent are turning to agriculture because of the burst in commodity prices especially crude oil.

Tagged ‘Developing Strategic Skills for Agribusiness,’ the training will commence on the 29th of March to 2nd of April 2015, with an address by the director general of IITA, Nteranya Sanginga at the sconference center of IITA in Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria.

The  training, which is to sharpen the skills of the young Agripreneurs to excel as business owners and effectively equip them for the necessary business proficiency along the agricultural value chain will draw participant from all the states of the federation including Abuja and other African countries like Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The five-day training will take the participants through several sessions like building a financially viable business, critical and strategic thinking in agribusiness, identifying opportunities within the agribusiness, effective planning for sustainable farming business, fundamentals of business accounting, business performance ratios, business accounting practice, self-management, and managing manpower for high productivity.

Participants will also be trained on essential business skills in farm management, effective sales and marketing strategies, achieving operational excellence, risks management and business continuity planning, writing a winning business plan for agribusiness, and public speaking and presentation skills.

Successful entrepreneurs will also be present to share practical case studies and motivational talks with aspiring agripreneurs.

The IITA Youth Agripreneurs is a group of young unemployed graduate which was established in 2012 by the director general of IITA, Nteranya Sanginga to engage unemployed youths in agriculture.

The group which is spread across states like Kano, Port-Harcourt, Abuja and other African countries like Uganda, DRCongo, Zambia, Kenya and Tanzania is actively engaging youths in the new phase of agriculture called agribusiness.