Centre for Dryland Agriculture, CDA, Bayero University Kano has revealed that plans are under way to establish a regional innovation, training and entrepreneurship hub for youth.
CDA Director, Professor Jibrin Mohammad Jibrin disclosed this on Tuesday at the second annual open-day celebration of the centre, organized to showcase its modest innovation and technical breakthrough over the years.
According to Prof. Jibrin, the training hub would be an avenue where youth would be trained in modern intensive agriculture and in bio resource entrepreneurship.
He said the training is aimed at facilitating the emergence of small and medium scale enterprises that would help in alleviating poverty and improve likelihood in the inhabitants of the sub-region.
“The Centre plans to establish a regional Innovation, training and Entrepreneurship hub where youth will be trained in modern intensive agriculture and in bio resource entrepreneurship.
READ ALSO: BREAKING: $250 to be added on each Nigerian pilgrim’s Hajj fare over Sudan crisis
“This is aimed at facilitating the emergence of small and medium scale enterprises that will help in alleviating poverty and improve likelihood in the inhabitants of the sub-region,” he said.
The Director states that CDA had set out target to addressing challenges in Dryland Agriculture in Africa essentially as it affect food production and security in the continent.
Besides that, the centre had also outlined commitment to sustain quality development of innovation and technology while focus on training and research to build capacity for dryland production.
Professor Jibrin noted that CDA had excelled significantly in the area of knowledge transfer and research development adding that it’s commitment in dryland production attracted resources and funding from World Bank and French Agency for Development, AGD.
While revealing that CDA has trained over 530 PhD and Msc students majority drawn from 15 African countries , Professors Jibrin reminded of several formidable network of partnership with international and regional institutions with common interest.
In a remark, Vice Chancellor Bayero University Kano, Professor Sagir Adamu Abbas, represented by Deputy Vice Chancellor administration and establishment, Professor Sagir Umar Sani revealed that the international recognition BUK earn through the CDA essentially the World Bank and French Agency for Development AGD is over USD 5 million.
The Vice Chancellor added that while the CDA remain a regional centre of excellence through consistent innovation and technological development, he assured of the university’s readiness to support the CDA with necessary atmosphere that enables it to strive to greater heights.
Part of the activities featured at the open day include exhibition of farm produce of the CDA and other agricultural revolution facilitated by the regional centre of excellence. The occasion also witnessed reward of hard work and excellent performance of both junior and senior staff with awards presentations.
Similarly, CDA used the occasion to reward five young entrepreneurs who showcase best agribusiness plan and investment model pitch in the maiden edition of it AgriHacking 1.0 program held earlier.
The five team of innovators who demonstrated exceptional innovation in various business ventures in agric ecosystem were rewarded with N7.5 million to expand their business opportunities and create wealth.
Besides, the brilliant business starters would also, among other benefits, be exposed to agribusiness mentorship and knowledge development at the CDA to further broaden their capacity to grow their products and market base.
