Dutse, Sept. 22, 2025
No fewer than 400 unemployed youths have graduated on hybrid date production and processing, to sustain a means of livelihood and reduce umployment burden in Jigawa state.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony of the youths at the permanent NYSC orientation camp in Panisau area of Dutse on Monday, Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa state reiterated commitment to youth empowerment.
Namadi, explained that the initiative will provide employment opportunities and boost date palm farming in Jigawa,urging the beneficiaries to commit to their new skills.
According to him, “This program aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which is in line with our 12-Point agenda,” the Governor said.
In his remarks, Chairman of the project commitee and Jigawa state Chief of Staff, Sen. Mustapha Makama, expressed delight for the success of the first batch of the project
He said that the commitment of the state Governor in boosting agriculture and youths empowerment, gave birth to a commitee sadled with the project task.
According to Makama, “About 10,000 hybrid seedlings have been secured for the project and it is anticipated that the project and it anticipated that it beneficial in the next 100 years and beyond.
“Gov. Namadi has ordered that free seedlings should be planted, free watering materials and free mentorship be offered to the trained youths,” he said.
He however, revealed that more batches of the training are well under way, with more than 2,000 youths expected to benefit.
Also speaking, the Jigawa state Coordinator of the Nigeria Institute for Oil-palm Research (NIFOR), Mr Abdulhamid Hamza, explained that the seedlings used for the training are hybrid.
“The seedlings can produce over 70 kilos for a start and can generate N7 million monthly if well taken care of.” The coordinator explained.
He further revealed that Jigawa state soil has the natural gift of producing date fruits twice a year, whereas many countries only produce once annually.
The Coordinator explained that the youths were not only trained on date production, rather they were trained on the whole date palm value chain for better productivity.
Hamza expressed that the efforts of the state government in providing job opportunities through farming, can curtail Japa syndrome amongst Jigawa youths.
Meanwhile, he expressed readiness of the Institute in collaborating with all stakeholders to boost date production in Jigawa state.
In his closing remarks,the Director General, Jigawa state Institute of Research, Dr Sulaiman Rufai, commended the Namadi administration for the idea and setting up the commitee to that effect.
He revealed that the government has offered 1,042 hectares of land and targets training of 2,084 youths into the project.
Rufai commended the resilience of the youths during the in-House training, urging them to commit more and expect a close monitoring as they embark to the farms.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr Musa Abdullahi, said they received intensive training on production and processing of the date palm.
According to him, “We have all learnt that date palm can be processed into four varieties of Juice, Syrup, Powder and the seeds can produce a coffee,” he said.
He commended the state government for providing the training and the incentives, pledging to utilise the knowledge for the benefit of the state and the nation at large.
Aisha Ahmed ✍ from Dutse.
