Porto-Novo, October 9, 2019 – “The values, skills and capacity acquired through the African Union Development Agency–NEPAD’s sponsored Decent Rural Youth project have laid a solid foundation for us to navigate through the world of entrepreneurship and rural enterprises,” commented Ms Moulikatou Adjibola. Ms Adjibola is one of the graduates at the Songhai Regional Centre, under the AUDA-NEPAD project who summed up the sentiments of the rest of the 128 students at the graduation ceremony in Porto-Novo, Benin. The ceremony marked the end of the training of the third cohort of youths in the country. 

The project, supported by UN Food and Agriculture organization (FAO) is currently implemented in Benin, Cameroon, Malawi and Niger. It has produced about 800 students thus far, specialising in various agriculture and agribusiness value chains in the four countries.

During the ceremony, the special guest of honour, Mrs Françoise Assogba Komlan, Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, informed guests that the AUDA-NEPAD project has added value to Benin’s efforts youth upliftment. She stressed that the President of the Republic H.E Patrice Talon and her ministry would work with development partners, to ensure that the students are further supported to create viable and sustainable businesses.

Mr Vincent Oparah, AUDA-NEPAD’s Project Manager for the Skills and Employment for Youth Programme expressed satisfaction that the overall objectives of the project have been achieved in the four countries. 

According to Mr Oparah, the project was designed to give hope to the “missing middle” in the rural areas -both male and female youths. “It is pleasing to witness the results of the project, through which the students are now able to produce different commodities, as well as being able to process them, in minimising post-harvest losses,” Oparah exclaimed.

On behalf of the Director General of the Songhai Regional Centre, Fr. Godfrey Nzamujo, Mr Charlemagne Sintondji acknowledged the challenges that youth are faced with today. The challenges, according to Mr Sintondji, require radical changes in mind-sets. He thanked AUDA-NEPAD and FAO for involving Songhai Regional Centre in this initiative. He pledged the support of the Centre to continue to monitor the progress of the young entrepreneurs.  

Other attendees to the ceremony include government officials, development partners, civil society organizations and members of the media. The event was concluded with an exhibition showcasing products manufactured by the students.