In a bold move to deepen youth engagement in agriculture and promote food security, Hon. Salaudeen Kabeer Adebayo, Convener of Hope Never Dies (HND), empowered hundreds of young farmers with improved cassava seedlings through a strategic partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) under its Youth in Agribusiness Support (YAS) programme.
The empowerment event, held at the Saki West Local Government Secretariat, marked another significant milestone in the grassroots agricultural transformation campaign led by Hon. Salaudeen. The distributed cassava seedlings, known for their high yield and disease resistance, are expected to enhance food production and economic opportunities for youth in the region.
In his remarks, Hon. Salaudeen Kabeer emphasized the urgency of addressing food insecurity and youth unemployment in Nigeria. “This is not just a distribution of seedlings—it is a call to action. We are equipping our youth to take ownership of their future through agribusiness,” he said.
Representatives of IITA-YAS applauded the initiative, stressing that youth inclusion in agriculture is critical to transforming Africa’s food systems. They reiterated the institute’s readiness to continue supporting programmes like HND that target skill development and sustainable livelihoods for young people.
The beneficiaries of the programme were earlier trained on cassava cultivation best practices, including land preparation, planting methods, pest control, and post-harvest management. Each of them received bundles of certified cassava cuttings and technical manuals to support effective planting and yield maximization.
One of the participants, Fatimah Adeola, expressed gratitude: “This is life-changing. I now have both the knowledge and the resources to succeed as a farmer. I thank Hon. Salaudeen for believing in us.”
The event attracted key community stakeholders, including traditional rulers, youth leaders, alumni of previous HND empowerment projects, and representatives of government agencies. Testimonies from past trainees underscored the far-reaching impact of Hon. Salaudeen’s ongoing agricultural initiatives.
This latest intervention builds on the success of HND’s previous empowerment programme, which trained over 120 youth in areas such as fish farming, maize and yam production, beekeeping, and cassava cultivation. Hon. Salaudeen also hinted at a more ambitious plan to train and empower 1,000 youth across Saki and surrounding towns through smart farming projects in partnership with institutions like IITA.
The event was witnessed by political stakeholders, Community Stakeholders such as Adekunle Musediq, the Convener of Saki First and other important personality.
While reacting to the success of the programme, Hon. Salaudeen gives kudos to all the member of HND for their support, The IITA and Saki First Convener for collaborative efforts in empowering the youth of the town.
, empowered hundreds of young farmers with improved cassava seedlings through a strategic partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) under its Youth in Agribusiness Support (YAS) programme.){kind=link}