FCT Partners YFDI to Drive Green Economy Through Palm Tree Maintenance

News in Brief:

-YFDI launches a palm management initiative with the FCT government to create jobs and promote a greener Abuja.

-The project combines environmental maintenance with agribusiness, providing technical training and employment for young Nigerians.

The Youth Farmers Development Initiative (YFDI) has kicked off a bold new project aimed at combining agriculture, environmental sustainability, and youth empowerment in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). This initiative, recently launched in partnership with the FCT Department of Parks and Recreation, is expected to generate hundreds of direct and indirect jobs annually through the palm value chain.

Speaking during the official flag-off in Abuja, Comrade Chilota Onyeka, National President of YFDI, described the Palm Maintenance and Management Initiative as a landmark project showcasing young Nigerians’ readiness to lead in environmental stewardship and the green economy.

According to Onyeka, the initiative is not merely about maintaining palms across the FCT, but also about harnessing the full economic potential of palm trees, from pruning and maintenance to processing value-added products. “We will engage hundreds of youths every year on direct and indirect jobs in the FCT and beyond,” he said.

A Structured Green Programme

The programme, supported technically by Madox Agro Equipment Services, will employ and train young people in environmental management techniques. It will also improve the health of urban palms, enhance safety and visibility along major roads, and reinforce Abuja’s status as one of Africa’s greenest capitals.

Onyeka noted that the project aligns with YFDI’s mission to mobilise young Nigerians for productive agricultural engagement, environmental protection, and climate resilience. “At YFDI, we see this as just the beginning,” he added, outlining plans to scale the model across Nigeria as part of wider climate-smart agriculture and green job initiatives.

Government and Private Sector Backing

Director of the FCT Department of Parks and Recreation, Mrs Ifeoma Umeha, commended YFDI for its vision, noting that the pilot phase would serve as a benchmark for deeper collaboration. She encouraged participating youths to contribute to the beautification of Abuja in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration.

In his remarks, Alhaji Haruna Isah, representing Madox Agro Equipment Services, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to providing the tools and expertise needed for effective palm maintenance and processing into finished products, a move he said would boost agribusiness, revenue, and environmental cleanliness in the capital.

“Let us turn maintenance into a movement, and make every green project an opportunity for empowerment, innovation, and national pride. Together, we are cultivating a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable Abuja,” Comrade Onyeka concluded with a call to action for stakeholders.