The Federal Government has successfully completed a specialized training program designed to equip youths, women, and farmers with cutting-edge Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills for modern agriculture.
Dr. Asabe Vilita-Bashir, Director-General of the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development (MBNCWD), officially announced the conclusion of the training on Friday in Abuja. She emphasized that the initiative aimed to bridge the digital divide in agriculture, foster gender inclusivity, and boost food production through technology-driven innovations.
“This training was designed to introduce participants to emerging trends in agriculture and encourage them to leverage ICT tools for better productivity,” Vilita-Bashir stated.
With Nigeria’s population projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, food security remains a national priority. Small-scale farmers, often challenged by limited access to modern farming techniques, were introduced to AI-powered solutions, including robotics, soil and crop monitoring, and predictive analytics. The program also covered ICT applications in market intelligence, weather forecasting, pest control, and digital record-keeping for efficient farm management.
Beyond technology, participants explored entrepreneurship, social media marketing for agriculture, and collaborative networking strategies to enhance market reach.
Mr. Johnson Morrison-Udobong, Director of ICT at MBNCWD, urged beneficiaries to share their newfound knowledge with others, ensuring widespread adoption of smart farming techniques.
The impact of the training was evident as female farmers expressed gratitude for the opportunity, stating that the skills acquired would revolutionize their farming practices and help uplift their communities.
As a token of support, each participant received a certificate, a brand-new laptop, and a transportation stipend.
This initiative underscores the government’s commitment to empowering Nigerian farmers with the tools needed to thrive in an increasingly digital world.
