The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Foundation has flagged off the North-West phase of its vulnerable farmers training programme in Kano, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening food security and uplifting rural communities.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony on Tuesday at the Rumfa college in Kano, the Managing Director of NNPC Foundation, Mrs. Emmanuella Arukwe, said the initiative was designed to equip vulnerable farmers, particularly women and youth, with modern agricultural techniques, financial literacy, and access to markets.
According to her, “this programme is not just about training. It is about transforming households from subsistence farming to sustainable income and resilience.
“The program reflects our commitment to national development that goes beyond energy” she stated.
Represented by the foundation’s Director of Finance, Eugenia Dominion, the managing director said the project has so far been implemented in four zones, South-East, South-South, South-West, and North-Central, engaging 7,119 registered farmers, with 7,063 actively participating.
She explained that the training will feature modules on climate-smart agriculture, soil management, post-harvest handling, cooperative formation, and digital tools for agronomy and marketing.
Mrs. Arukwe emphasised that the sessions would be practical, combining lectures, demonstrations, and interactive group work, with translators on hand to ensure inclusivity.
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In his goodwill message, the Kano State Commissioner for Agriculture, Danjuma Mahmoud, represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Bashir Sanusi, hailed the programme as timely.
He commended the NNPC Foundation for its foresight, stressing that the initiative aligns with Governor Abba Yusuf’s agricultural transformation agenda.
He said under the governor’s leadership, Kano has revitalized irrigation schemes, subsidized farming inputs, promoted mechanization, and empowered thousands of smallholder farmers, particularly women and youth.
“This initiative represents a bold step towards achieving food security, tackling unemployment, and addressing climate-related challenges,” Mahmoud stated, assuring the foundation of the state government’s full support.
