Nigeria Maize Association Promises One Million Jobs Using PPP Model

News in brief: The Maize Association of Nigeria aims to create one million jobs through a public-private partnership, aligned with the government's vision of achieving food sufficiency and reducing youth unemployment. The association has seen considerable growth, increasing its membership from 120,000 to five million in five years, and has invested in various agricultural equipment and tools.

Maize farmers in Nigeria have promised to leverage public private partnership (PPP) to create one million jobs in the country. The Maize Association of Nigeria made the announcement at the 2023 Wet Season Maize Farming and Input Distribution event in Katsina state.

The event was attended by a cross section of guests including farmers, civil society groups and representatives of the state government, the Deputy Governor Mannir Yakubu.

President of the association, Dr. Abubakar Bello, said that the plan keys into the federal government’s vision of attaining food sufficiency. He added that it was also part of the association's efforts to putting an end to youth unemployment, while assuring that these measures would help settle the country's restiveness.

Bello said that the body is eager to take advantage of, and explore, government policies for the benefit of its members and the entire nation as well. He revealed that the association has already empowered 360 youths by employing them as tractor operators.

The scheme allows it to align with the current government’s policy of reviving agriculture via the establishment of the Agricultural Commodity Board. In addition to the association says it is repositioning themselves to enjoy the full benefit of commodity exchange, warehousing, produce processing and marketing.

The maize association has made significant input to the economy, Bello claimed. It has grown its membership from 120,000 to five million in five years and purchased several equipment and tools including 92 tractors, 55 plough discs, 21 ridgers, 54 harrows, 21 planters, 10 boom sprayers and 24 tipping trailers so far.