WORK | LEARN | EARN

Enterprise for Youth in Agriculture

Through our partnership with Mastercard Foundation, we’re proud to be part of the solution to youth unemployment in Africa.

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More Details

EYiA Project

Work, Learn, and Earn – an opportunity to train unemployed youths and women in vegetable production (Olericulture) using technology. The technologies to be deployed include:
  1. Greenhouse farming – this is a climate smart growing method that gives the growers control over biotic and abiotic factors.
  2. Soilless farming (hydroponics) – a growing method that does not depend on soil, it allows the grower to grow year round regardless of season
  3. ML & AI tools – These will be used in monitoring the irrigation of the plants as well as proper nutrient combination for the plants
  4. Integrated Pest management – A combination of physical and biological control will be used throughout the project to ensure proper pest management.
Students will be admitted quarterly into the project, 1000 students per quarter and will be grouped in 50s. In a year there will be 4 admissions, thus:
  1. Annual student intake = 4000
  2. A batch of students admitted quarterly = 1000
  3. A batch consist of 20 groups
  4. A group consist of 50 team members
Work:
  1. All 50 students in a group have joint ownership of a 3 plots hydroponics farm
  2. Each group will have the technical team (16), Agronomy team (12), Packaging/branding team (8), logistics (6) and Account/Management team (8)
Learn:
  1. All students will be trained on basic greenhouse setup
  2. All students will be trained on basic soilless farm setup
  3. All students will be trained on basic ML and AI setup
  4. All students will be trained on basic Olericulture production
  5. Students will be trained also based on their units – technical, agronomy etc so they can manage the company on their own
Earn:
  1. The students will earn a stipend during the 3 month of training
  2. Accommodation is provided for 3months
  3. Learn how to setup/manage greenhouses and hydroponics
  4. Earn salaries from their company from the 4th month of inception from produce sales

Click to here Apply!

TESTIMONIALS

TESTIMONIALS

Here are some of our thrilling testimonials from some of our previous partners.

Adetunji Joshua

Cohort 3

My name is Adetunji Joshua, a participant from cohort 3, specializing in e-commerce and digital marketing. After completing the EYiA training, I secured contracts to dismantle and reconstruct greenhouses. Recently, I acquired land to start snail and grasscutter farming, intending to feed them with hydroponically grown grasses.I am grateful to Soilless Farm Lab for their invaluable resources and training, which have significantly contributed to my journey and success in agriculture.

Hannah Rotimi-Williams

COHORT 1

After graduating from Cohort 1, I set up my own rabbitry with about 60 rabbits, training a few partners and employing one person, with others volunteering. I completed two additional trainings: Horticulture and Permaculture by IFAD at Soilless Farm Lab, and a Permaculture course by Kansas State University and Kansas Permaculture Institute through Protect Ozone. Leveraging the knowledge gained from EYIA training at Soilless Farm Lab, I now offer paid consultation services and serve as the Lead Gender and Safeguarding in The Mastercard Foundation Alumni Committee/Youth Advisory Council in Nigeria.

Esionyeaba Victor Chiemezie

COHORT 2

My journey through the EYIA program has been nothing short of Transformative, equipped with new knowledge, skills and insights. The experience gained, fuelled my passion to further in the agricultural sector, not just like the usual way others practice it or see it, but in a well fashioned way, that generates better results. It has helped me to gain an employment as an Agronomist/ Farm Consultant for River valley Farm ITU, Akwa Ibom State.

Funmi

COHORT 1

A transformative training experience that opened my eyes to new career possibilities, leading me to become a Farm Manager, Soil Scientist, and Agronomist at Greenport Nigeria. This pivotal moment set me on a path to play a key role in the agricultural production sector, where I use my expertise to drive innovation. I am deeply grateful to Soilless Farm Lab that provided this opportunity, shaping my professional journey and contributing to my success.

Hosanna Chika

COHORT 5

The first quarter of this year was transformative for my career. After school in August 2023, I sought an agricultural internship, and through a friend's introduction, I joined the EYiA training, where I learned innovative agriculture, business management, digital marketing, branding, and packaging. Applying these principles as a foodstuff vendor, I began making significant sales, registered my business, and started outreach programs in secondary schools to teach practical agriculture, aiming to inspire teens in Aba and beyond. EYiA replaced my excuses with responsibility, and now I feel empowered as the future of Nigeria and the world.

Abbas Sarkin Aski

COHORT 4

After completing the EYiA program, I returned to my state and began cultivating habanero peppers in open fields due to the high cost of hydroponics. I was employed as an Agronomist and Technical Engineer at NIGER FOOD, raised pawpaw seedlings, and expanded into poultry production.I owe my success to Almighty ALLAH, Soilless Farm Lab and my dedicated facilitator, Mz. Oluwatomilayo (Mr. Perfecto), who provided invaluable guidance, especially in sourcing pawpaw seeds. Thank you, ma'am. The sky is your starting point, and I wish you continued success and grace.

Project Location

Expected Project Output

Total impact by numbers from 12 cohorts within three years.

144
Acres
Farming Area Covered
240
Farm
COMPANIES CREATED
12000
Graduate
Youth Farmers
31200
Agri-Jobs
Directly Created
45000
Youths
Skilled in hydroponics

Where We Are

After six successful cohorts, our tangible impacts...

96
Acres
Farming Area Covered
160
Farm
COMPANIES CREATED
8000
Graduate
Youth Farmers
19386
Agri-Jobs
Directly Created
23565
Youths
Skilled in hydroponics

Eligibility Criteria

Applications are for those who at the time of application are between the ages of 18 years and 29 years for males and 18 years and 35 years for females. Those who are outside this age range will not be considered for admission

Olericulture is the process of growing vegetables – this could be leaf or fruit-bearing vegetables. You must have a genuine interest in growing vegetables and working with vegetables.

The physical training on the farm is for 12 weeks (3 months) and this training cannot be done online or virtually. As an applicant, you must be able to commit fully to being on the farm for 12 weeks and participating in all the activities on the farm.

As an applicant, you must be someone who has the mental capacity to work on the farm and to work with others. The training allows for those who live with a disability, we, however, need it written in the provided space during the application, so we are able to adequately prepare for you. You must be someone who has developed the ability to work with others, as we are focused on building a team and not individual heroes.

You must be willing to relocate to Kurere village, Awowo, Ewekoro LGA, Ogun state. This is physical training, and it cannot be attended by proxy, so as an applicant you must be willing to live within the farm during the training. In addition, at the end of the training, participants get to have 3 plots of hydroponics farms to manage as a cluster, therefore everyone must be willing to continue to live within the farm environment so they can continue to manage their farms.

The program is not open to anyone who has a criminal record, for anyone who applies, and we find out that those who have a criminal record will be expelled immediately from the partnership.

Click here to read Handbook

Think you've got what it takes?

Benefits to You

training1

Fully Sponsored Training

You get to learn about the Olericulture value chain and soilless farming for free. This is a well-structured hands-on training to help you co-own and co-manage a soilless farm as part of a group.
setup

Free Farm Setup Kits

A cluster (group of 50 students) Will work on 3 plots of hydroponics farm set up for them, with access to logistics and a storage facility on the farm. Each cluster will be registered as a company.
offtakers

Access to Offtakers

You will get connected to off-takers to buy off the produce at the beginning of the project until you are able to generate your own leads. You get to practice all the marketing skills you were taught.
mentorship1

Post Training + Mentorship

Activities include presentation (action plan of training), Performance try-out, and follow-up. You demonstrate and illustrate each step of a task. You will repeat tasks multiple times so that your mistakes are corrected.

Our Training Process

Learn how to get paid doing what you love.

3 Steps to Work, Learn and Earn

Pre-Hub
  1. Application and Selection:
    The application portal has a 3-minute video that explains what the project is about, and an assessment based on what the project is about. This is to ensure the students understand what the project entails and is willing to follow through the process.
  2. Interview preparation:
    On the successful completion of your application form, you will get a link to watch a short introductory video on soilless farming (hydroponics) technology. The video also teaches you how to setup a hydroponics system for your home use.

Start Application

Hub
  1. Hand-on training:
    This covers the 12 weeks of the training – ranging from farm setup, planting and management. It also covers other non-farm skills to be acquired by the applicants.
  2. Cooperative group formation and ecommerce set-up:
    The applicants are grouped into 50s, companies are setup based on these groups, in addition there is a cooperative for every batch.

Start Application

Post-hub

Mentorship:
We monitor the farms as consultants, as well as other activities of the company to ensure for the next 2 years post-hub they thrive and turnover profits.

Start Application

Implementing Partners

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