Delta State authorities are training 1,000 young specialists in agribusiness.

In the city of Ughelli, an educational project has been launched, encompassing 1,000 participants. The initiative is being conducted within the framework of the authorities' strategy to create jobs, strengthen the state's economy, and diversify income sources to reduce dependence on the oil sector. Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources Val Areneika emphasized the need for a shift in approach: agronomy should be viewed as a promising commercial activity rather than a means of personal subsistence. It is expected that the program will be expanded upon the completion of the first phase.

The course focuses on four key agricultural areas: cocoa, cotton, coffee, and ginger. The choice of these crops is driven by their high export potential and stable demand in the international market. Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture George Oyefia explained that the training includes not only theory but also practical sessions on mechanized farming and the production of feed for livestock animals. To support aspiring entrepreneurs, the government has allocated 10,000 cocoa nursery plants, 100,000 cotton nursery plants, as well as 5,000 nursery plants each for coffee and ginger.

According to the program organizer and facilitator Israel Yusuf, the main goal of the training is to teach youth how to build a full business cycle: from product manufacture to deep processing, marketing, and the organization of export shipments. The training aims to provide young people with the tools to create their own viable enterprises. Project participants note that the program allows them to acquire necessary knowledge and improve existing skills in the agricultural sector.