The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission has awarded a grant of $2,238,000 to support 10 Agricultural Research Centres, five Agroecology and Organic Production Centres, including Songhai Centres, across the region.
The grant, announced at a workshop in Porto Novo, Benin, is part of ECOWAS’ Regional Strategy for Youth Employment in Agricultural Value Chains and aims to train 3,850 young people, with 40% of beneficiaries being women.
Speaking at the event, ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Mrs. Massandjé TOURE-LITSE, who presented the cheques on behalf of Dr. Omar Alieu TOURAY, ECOWAS Commission President, highlighted the initiative’s role in enhancing youth employment, self-reliance, and agricultural innovation.
“Training young people is an investment in our collective future,” TOURE-LITSE stated. “It equips them with the necessary skills to transform agriculture, enhance productivity, and strengthen the competitiveness of our agricultural sectors. Moreover, it combats unemployment by offering concrete prospects for self-employment and entrepreneurship.”
The workshop also provided a platform to sensitize and mobilize beneficiary centres for the 2024/2025 grant, offering insights into ECOWAS’ broader strategy for youth integration in agro-sylvo-pastoral and fisheries sectors.
Prof. Godfrey NZAMUJO, Director of the Songhai Centre, commended ECOWAS for its strategic intervention, emphasizing that the initiative is not just about training but about building a new economic paradigm for Africa.
“What we are launching today is more than just a training program—it is the foundation of a new economic paradigm”.
“A paradigm where agriculture, industry, and services work in synergy to drive sustainable development, environmental regeneration, and wealth creation,” Prof. Nzamujo remarked.
This investment aligns with ECOWAS’ vision for sustainable and inclusive agricultural development, reinforcing agriculture’s role as a key driver of economic growth, food security, and youth empowerment in the region.
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