Michael Okpara University Offers Youths Free Agribusiness Training

News in Brief: - Michael Okpara University is offering free agribusiness training to young people in Nigeria to improve food security and equip them with practical skills in producing various food items. - This initiative aligns with the federal government's food security efforts and encourages young people from Abia and surrounding states to participate. The Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, has announced the launch of a free agribusiness training program for young people in Nigeria. The program commences in April 2024 under the university's Agribusiness Incubation Centre project, with a view to enhancing food security and equipping participants with essential knowledge. This initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's directive to promote food security through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. The Agribusiness Incubation Centre, established under this directive, serves the Abia community by fostering innovation and providing training in various agricultural business areas. The program curriculum will cover practical skills in producing various food items and conventional confectionery from wheat and local root/tuber crops. It will teach students how to make chips, high-quality flours and fufu flours, starches, and drinks from turmeric and sweet potato. Its range of drinks covers production of juices, local beers, dried fruits, and jam. Additionally, Dr. Philips Nto, Director of the Agribusiness Incubation Centre, encourages young people from Abia and surrounding states to seize this opportunity to gain valuable skills and contribute to food self-sufficiency. Furthermore, the program, initially targeted at individuals, plans to expand its scope in the future to include trainees from government and corporate organisations. Dr. Nto also expressed gratitude to the university's Vice Chancellor, Prof. Maduebibisi Iwe, for his unwavering support in establishing and propelling the center toward its core mission.