In a bold move to harness the untapped potential of West Africa’s youth, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in partnership with the West African Secretariat of Ecological Organic Agriculture (WASEOA), has launched a $594,000 initiative aimed at transforming 1,270 young people into future leaders of organic agriculture across six countries.

The year-long program, spanning from April 2025 to March 2026, is set to provide intensive training in organic farming and agroecology to selected youths aged 18 to 35 in Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal. This effort directly targets the region’s rising youth unemployment crisis while promoting sustainable farming practices amid growing concerns about food security and climate change.

Speaking at the official launch during a stakeholder workshop in Lagos, organizers emphasized that the program is more than just skills training; it’s about sparking a green agribusiness revolution. The Association of Organic Agriculture Practitioners of Nigeria (NOAN), serving as WASEOA’s secretariat, will oversee fund management and implementation.

In Nigeria, 270 youths will benefit from specialized training in Zaria, Anambra, and Oyo, focusing on climate-resilient, high-value crops such as sesame and ginger. A unique feature of the curriculum includes Agro-Sylvo-Pastoral Heuristics (ASPH), an integrated model combining agriculture, forestry, and livestock management. Gender inclusion is a key focus, with 40 percent of beneficiaries expected to be women.

The ECOWAS Commission’s Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture noted that the initiative aligns with the regional strategy for youth employment in agriculture and is critical for addressing rural-urban migration and long-term food system resilience.

Training centres across participating countries will receive sub-grants to roll out the program. Early successes from a prior funding phase in Nigeria, Liberia, and Togo set an optimistic tone: in Anambra State, for example, trainees formed cooperatives and began establishing fish ponds under the Fisheries & Aquaculture Value Chain Partnership Centre.

Regional stakeholders believe this new wave of agroecology champions will not only strengthen food systems but also promote regional integration and inclusive economic development. As young people step into roles as farmers, innovators, and entrepreneurs, West Africa inches closer to a more food-secure and sustainable future.