Abuja: A National Youth Service Corps member serving in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. John Ayomipo, has trained and empowered 50 women and youths in organic farming in Wassa Community. The training, held on Friday in Wassa Community and Wassa Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camp Apo, Abuja, was part of his Community Development Service project, ‘Green Futures’. The project was carried out in collaboration with the Heinrich Boell Foundation Nigeria, Be The Help Foundation (BHF), and Alliance for Action on Pesticides in Nigeria (AAPN).
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Ayomipo explained that the three-day training project represented his Primary Service-Year commitment to NYSC, SDG, and Community Development (CDS) platform. The training aimed to empower participants to grow their food organically without using Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) or Hybrid GMO seeds. Techniques taught included vertical gardening, sack farming, composting, and natural pest control. Ayomipo emphasized the importance of educating the community on sustainable organic farming practices to reduce the use of hazardous pesticides.
Ayomipo stated that the initiative directly advances Sustainable Development Goals SDG 1 (No poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). He also noted that starter kits, including manure, tomato, corn, and sweet potato seedlings, would be distributed to the community.
Mr. Donald Ofoegbu, Senior Programme Manager of Heinrich Boell Foundation Nigeria, praised Ayomipo for initiating the youth-led programme. He expressed commitment to ensuring the initiative extends beyond the initial training sessions. Ofoegbu encouraged the community to stop using HHPs and embrace organic farming practices for improved health and nutrition.
The Chairman of the IDP Camp in Wassa, Mr. Geoffrey Bitrus, expressed gratitude for Ayomipo’s choice of Wassa Community IDPs for his community service project. Village Head, Chetta Wassa, Mr. Danjuma Kabari, also applauded the initiative, highlighting its potential to improve local farming practices.
Beneficiaries such as Miss Chidinma Nnaemeka and Aisha Amadu expressed excitement and gratitude toward the organisers for the training and empowerment in organic farming practices. The training featured sustainable urban farming techniques, organic pest control, organic manure, and land advocacy for communal farming.