FG, World Bank Renew Commitment to Youth Skills Development Through IDEAS Project

The Federal Government and the World Bank have reaffirmed their commitment to equipping Nigerian youths with practical skills that will enhance employment opportunities, entrepreneurship and economic development.

Chairman of CSS Global Integrated Farms, Prof. John-Kennedy Opara, stated this on Wednesday, October 1, 2026, in Gora, Nasarawa State, at the commencement of a six-month training programme under the Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS) Project, implemented by the Federal Ministry of Education with support from the World Bank.

Opara, who was represented by the farm’s Training Manager, Victor Umunakwe, said the programme would combine theoretical instruction with practical training in crop production and animal husbandry. He urged participants to demonstrate punctuality, discipline and commitment throughout the training.

According to him, the objective of the programme goes beyond the award of certificates, as participants are expected to acquire practical, employable and entrepreneurial skills that would enable them to secure jobs, establish businesses and contribute to Nigeria’s food security and economic development.

He added that the initiative was designed to bridge the gap between academic qualifications and the practical skills required in the workplace.

In her remarks, the National Project Coordinator of the IDEAS Project, Mrs Blessing Ogwu, represented by Mrs Susan Ekoja, said the initiative had recorded significant achievements in strengthening technical and vocational education and training in Nigeria.

She said the project had invested in infrastructure, equipment and human capacity development, noting that about 4,000 technical teachers and instructors had been trained, while approximately 80,000 Nigerians had been reached through various training service providers across the country.

Ogwu urged the trainees to take full advantage of the opportunity by attending training sessions regularly, asking questions, practising their skills and maintaining respect for their instructors and fellow participants.

She also reminded the beneficiaries that they were required to maintain a minimum of 65 per cent monthly attendance to qualify for the N30,000 stipend provided under the programme, stressing that regular participation was essential to acquiring the required practical competence.

Some beneficiaries, including Falaye Funmilola and Idris Adamu, expressed appreciation for the training opportunity, saying the programme had provided them with useful knowledge and skills.

CSS Global Integrated Farms has continued to provide training in agribusiness, animal husbandry and modern agricultural practices, positioning the facility as a major centre for practical agricultural skills development.

The organisers said the continued partnership between the Federal Government and the World Bank would help sustain the programme and provide Nigerian youths with skills capable of improving their employment prospects, supporting entrepreneurship and contributing to the country’s agricultural development.