The Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria has partnered with the Association of Organic Agriculture Practitioners of Nigeria to empower Nigerian youths through sustainable agriculture.

The partnership, part of the ECOWAS Youth Employability Project, seeks to equip young Nigerians with practical skills and knowledge to drive agricultural innovation and contribute to food security in the country.

The collaboration was formalised during a courtesy visit by NOAN representatives to the Director-General of FRIN, Dr. Zacharia Yaduma, at the institute’s headquarters in Ibadan, Oyo State.

According to Yaduma, the alliance aims to jointly implement the ECOWAS Youth Employability Project across South-Western Nigeria, focusing on training young people in organic farming techniques and value-chain development.

As part of the initiative, a five-day training workshop on organic agriculture was recently organised by FRIN in Ibadan for youths aged 18 to 25.

The training covered compost production, soil conservation, and biological input management, alongside practical sessions on organic farming practices.

Welcoming the partnership, Yaduma said FRIN remained committed to promoting sustainable agriculture and tackling youth unemployment through capacity-building programmes.

“We are excited to collaborate with NOAN on this initiative, which will drive sustainable agricultural development in Nigeria,” he said.

He explained that the training would not only enhance participants’ employability but also help them build viable agribusinesses that promote environmental conservation and economic growth.

According to him, “By equipping young Nigerians with the skills and knowledge needed to drive sustainable agricultural development, the collaboration aims to promote ecological organic agriculture practices in the West African sub-region.”

Yaduma added that the FRIN–NOAN partnership would serve as a model for future collaborations among government agencies, private organisations, and civil society groups working to advance sustainable agriculture in Nigeria.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Aderemi Oseni (APC, Oyo) during Wednesday’s plenary session.

The motion, titled “Need to Upgrade First-Generation Universities and Investigate the Quality and Standards of TETFUND Projects Across Federal Universities in Nigeria,” received overwhelming support from lawmakers.

Oseni noted that the first-generation universities, established in the early 1960s, once represented the pinnacle of academic excellence, boasting world-class facilities, highly qualified lecturers, and an environment that attracted global recognition.

However, decades of neglect, inadequate funding, and infrastructural decay have eroded their once-enviable status.

He lamented that lecture halls, hostels, and auditoriums in these universities have deteriorated. In contrast, once vibrant facilities such as the university zoos—formerly tourist attractions—are now abandoned or non-existent.

The lawmaker further expressed concern over the poor quality of Tertiary Education Trust Fund intervention projects, alleging that many recently completed projects are already showing signs of decay, unlike structures built over six decades ago.

In response, the House resolved to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the quality and standard of TETFund projects executed in federal universities to ensure value for money and accountability in the use of public funds.

Lawmakers also urged the Federal Ministries of Education and Finance, the National Universities Commission, TETFund, and development partners to collaborate on modalities for rehabilitating and upgrading first-generation universities.

Additionally, the House mandated its Committees on University Education, TETFund, and other relevant bodies to investigate completed and ongoing projects in tertiary institutions across the country, ensure compliance with standards, and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.

PUNCH Online reports that the universities, including ABU, UI, UNN, and others are Nigeria’s oldest and most prestigious Federal institutions, mostly established in the early 1960s around the time of independence.

They were initially the benchmark for academic quality in Africa, attracting international scholars and students.

The motion directly references the fact that these institutions have suffered “decades of neglect, poor funding, and infrastructural decay.”

This continuous decline has led to the loss of their “once enviable status” and has diminished their global standing and ability to compete internationally.

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