KANO – In a landmark achievement for youth empowerment, 95 young Nigerians have graduated from the Digital Entrepreneurship for Nigerian Youth Programme, a transformative initiative blending agriculture with digital innovation. The ceremony, held in Kano on Saturday, was hailed as a turning point for economic and technological advancement in the region.
A New Generation of Agri-Tech Leaders
Presided over by Alhaji Abdussalam Abdulkareem Zaura, President of the AA Zaura Foundation International, the graduation marked the culmination of an intensive training program developed in partnership with the University of Sunderland and London Academy Business School.
“This is not just about certificates—it’s about equipping our youth to become job creators, not job seekers,” Zaura declared in his keynote address. “You entered this program with curiosity, but you’re leaving as pioneers of a digital agricultural revolution.”
The curriculum focused on digital entrepreneurship and agricultural value chains, preparing graduates to leverage technology in farming, agribusiness, and food production.
From Local Farms to Global Markets
Zaura emphasized the program’s potential to reshape Nigeria’s agricultural sector, urging graduates to “lead the transformation from soil to screen—from Kano to the global marketplace.” He also called for sustained investment in the cohort’s ventures, stressing that their success would fuel broader economic growth.
“We must integrate these innovators into larger value chains,” he told policymakers and business leaders. “Their ideas can drive Nigeria’s agri-tech renaissance.”
The foundation plans to support graduates through business incubation, mentorship, and market linkages, ensuring their skills translate into sustainable enterprises.
A Model for Youth Empowerment
The initiative aligns with the AA Zaura Foundation’s “From Streets to Straight” campaign, which rehabilitates and upskills underserved youth. Zaura praised the program’s international partners for adapting global expertise to local needs, calling it “a blueprint for impactful collaboration.”
“When you rise, Kano rises. Nigeria rises. Africa rises,” he told the graduates, urging them to “disrupt the digital ecosystem and feed our people—sustainably and innovatively.”
What’s Next?
With diplomas in hand, the graduates are poised to deploy their skills in agri-tech startups, farming cooperatives, and digital marketplaces. The foundation will monitor their progress, with plans to expand the program to other states.
