Ibadan — Nigerian youths under the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Youth project have been exploring opportunities in the seed sector, making visits to seed companies across the country with a view to exposing them to the business and development potentials in the seed sector.

Initiated by the Director General of IITA, Dr Nteranya Sanginga, the IITA Youth Agripreneurs aim to unlock the potentials in agriculture by attracting and engaging young men and women in agribusiness to create decent employment opportunities comparable to those of their colleagues in the banking, oil, and communication sectors.

Dr Sanginga who was represented by his deputy, Dr Gbassey Tarawali said, "Plans are under way for these youths to join the Nigerian seed companies in providing farmers with high quality seeds and planting materials for IITA commodities such as maize, cowpea, soybean, cassava, yam, banana and plantain in the first instance."

Seed companies visited by the young entrepreneurs include Da-AllGreen, Premier Seeds, Nagari Seeds, Savannah Seeds, National Agricultural Seed Council, Sun Seed, Springfield Agro, Maslaha Seed, Terratiga, Seed Project Company, Maina Seed and Manoma Seed companies.