THE ACHIEVEMENT OF RURAL YOUTH EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES: SUPPORT TO INTEGRATED AGRIBUSINESS HUBS PROJECT IN NIGERIA, IMPLICATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

AWOTODUNBO, ADEBAYO A.; ADENMOSUN ADETOLA; ADESANYA OMOTOMIWA; ADESANYA OMOTOMIWA; ADEBAYO, ATILADE SOLOMON; MUGISHO M. ALINE; OTU DAVID SAMUEL

doi:10.70382/mejavs.v7i1.026

Authors

AWOTODUNBO, ADEBAYO A. IFAD Agrihub Project, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
ADENMOSUN ADETOLA IFAD Agrihub Project, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
ADESANYA OMOTOMIWA IFAD Agrihub Project, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
ADESANYA OMOTOMIWA IFAD Agrihub Project, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
ADEBAYO, ATILADE SOLOMON IFAD Agrihub Project, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
MUGISHO M. ALINE IFAD Agrihub Project, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
OTU DAVID SAMUEL IFAD Agrihub Project, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research

Abstract

This study carefully described the achievement of rural youth employment opportunities: support to integrated agribusiness hubs project, tagged International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Agrihub project in Nigeria, and x-rayed its implication for sustainable development. It employed descriptive statistical design to analyse data obtained from the project beneficiaries, using carefully structured questionnaire developed by the project monitoring and evaluation team. Data were presented using frequency counts and percentages. Result shows that 50.1 percent of the beneficiaries were male, most of the beneficiaries (22.8%) were from Kaduna State while maize and soya beans production (14%), dairy production (11%) and renewable energy (10%) were the commodity value chains mostly engaged in by the project beneficiaries. Though the objectives of the IFAD Agrihub project were achieved, there is the need for consolidated efforts of all stakeholders to create enough employment opportunities for the growing youth population in Nigeria. Policymakers and development agencies who intend to design and implement projects with sustainable impacts for the citizenry should adopt the design of the IFAD Agrihub project. Doing this will guarantee the success of such project and create positive impacts that outlive the project on the beneficiaries.