Corp Member Champions Climate-Smart Farming in Wassa, Empowers 50 Women and Youth for Food Security

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In a bold effort to tackle food insecurity and promote eco-friendly agriculture, Favour John, a serving member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in the Federal Capital Territory, has trained 50 women and youth from Wassa Community and the Wassa IDP Camp on sustainable and organic farming practices. 

The three-day community impact project, themed “Green Futures: Sustainable Agriculture for Improved Livelihood and Climate Action,” was implemented in partnership with the Heinrich Böll Stiftung (HBS) Abuja, Be The Help Foundation (BHF Agroforestry Farms), and the Alliance for Action on Pesticides in Nigeria (AAPN). 

Held from October 24–26, 2025, at the Wassa Community Palace Compound, the project empowered participants with practical skills in organic farming, pesticide-free crop production, and climate-smart agricultural methods, while also addressing behavioral change towards safer, healthier, and more sustainable food systems. 

Day 1: Raising Awareness on Toxic Pesticides 
The opening session featured Mr. Donald Ofoegbu from AAPN, who educated participants on the dangers of Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) and the health benefits of switching to organic alternatives. His presentation emphasized the long-term environmental and nutritional value of pesticide-free farming. 

Representatives from the NYSC FCT SDG CDS Group also sensitized the community on how the project aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1, 2, 5, 11, and 13, highlighting its direct contribution to poverty reduction, gender equality, and climate action. 
Awareness

The day concluded with an introductory session on space-efficient sack farming, led by BHF Agroforestry Farms, which drew wide participation and excitement from attendees. 

Day 2: Practical Training and Peer Educator Inauguration 
The second day was fully practical, featuring live demonstrations on sack farming, vertical gardening, and organic manure and pesticide production using locally available materials. 

A key highlight was the inauguration of 10 peer educators, five from the host Wassa community and five from the IDP camp. These peer leaders will replicate and expand the organic farming practices within their neighborhoods, ensuring the project’s sustainability and multiplier effect. 
Pesticides


Participants described the training as “life-changing”, pledging to transition completely from chemical-based farming to organic alternatives. 

Day 3: Land Advocacy and Community Ownership 
The final day focused on land advocacy and community engagement, emphasizing the link between land access and food sovereignty. Through an interactive session themed “Land is Life”, community leaders and IDP coordinators discussed how to identify and reclaim underutilized land for shared community gardens. 
Groups

Working groups developed a three-step Advocacy Action Plan, identifying responsible persons and deadlines for implementation. By the end of the session, leaders signed a commitment pledge to pursue communal land acquisition, ensuring that women and youth have access to farmland to apply their new skills. 

Sowing Seeds for the Future 
Speaking after the training, Favour John reaffirmed his commitment to promoting climate-resilient livelihoods and thanked all partners and the NYSC FCT SDG CDS for their support. 
Food


“This project is not just about farming; it’s about restoring dignity, improving health, and building a greener future for vulnerable communities,” he said. 

The project’s success signals growing youth leadership in advancing Nigeria’s agricultural transformation and the SDGs at the grassroots level.

Comments

  1. AnonymousOctober 28, 2025 at 10:29 AM

    Thank you so much for amplifying this initiative!

    ReplyDelete

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