The Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) has commenced a specialized training program for 100 young Nigerian graduates in cassava seed entrepreneurship as part of efforts to position the youth as key drivers of the country’s agricultural transformation.
The training, being held at the Career Services and Linkages Unit of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, is designed to equip participants with the technical, business and leadership skills required to establish, manage and grow viable cassava seed enterprises.
The initiative is being implemented in partnership with the Industrial Cassava Stakeholders Association of Nigeria (ICSAN) and FUNAAB under SAA’s PROSSIVA project.
The program focuses on developing young graduates into Cassava Seed Entrepreneurs (CSEs) capable of producing and supplying quality cassava planting materials to farmers, while also creating employment and income-generating opportunities within the agricultural value chain.
Beyond technical training in cassava seed production, participants are being exposed to business development, enterprise management, and leadership skills to help them build commercially sustainable ventures and respond effectively to the needs of cassava farmers.
SAA said the initiative forms part of broader efforts under the PROSSIVA project to strengthen vegetatively propagated crop seed systems, particularly cassava, and improve farmers’ access to quality planting materials.
Cassava remains an important food and industrial crop in Nigeria, supporting millions of farmers and supplying raw materials to several agro-processing industries.
However, access to high-quality planting materials remains a critical factor in improving productivity and strengthening the cassava value chain.
By investing in young graduates and developing their capacity as seed entrepreneurs, the initiative is expected to contribute to a stronger cassava seed system, increased agricultural productivity, and greater youth participation in Nigeria’s agribusiness sector.
