AfDB, Brazil groom African youth in cassava processing

@SimonEchewofun The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the BrazilAfrica Institute (BAI) have launched the Youth Technical Training Program (YTTP) to train young African professionals in research and technology transfer.

The YTTP initiative is sponsored under the South– South Cooperation Trust Fund (SSCTF). Both parties on September 14, announced the commencement of training in cassava processing.

The first batch of the YTTP training, which was flagged off at the AfDB headquarters in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, targets 30 young African professionals from ages 18 to 35 of the cassava value-chain from 14 countries.

The trainees will receive a two-month training on the production chain of cassava at the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) ™ a state-owned centre in Brazil.

The initiative is in collaboration with EMBRAPA and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

The Bank’s Director of Agriculture and AgroIndustries, Chiji Ojukwu in a statement from the Communications Officer, Mr Emeka Anuforo, said the cassava training programme is one of the many programmes of ENABLE (Empowering Novel Agri-BusinessLed Employment) Youth Programme of the AfDB.

President of BAI, João Bosco Monte said the trainees would return with sound cassava production and processing training and skills at the end of the two months training.

Bosco Monte said his Institute would work with AfDB to raise participants for the cassava processing training to 300 afterwards saying, “This is just the beginning.”

AfDB Executive Director for Nigeria, Mr Bright Okogu said, “We are eager to have you come back to practice and teach your generation what you have learnt.”

Two of the trainees, Viviane Kacou of Côte d’Ivoire and Oyesiji Funmilayo of Nigeria, stressed how they would use the opportunity to enhance their capacities and become role models to other youth.