INFLUENCE OF AGRIBUSINESS TRAINING PROGRAMME ON YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

The study’s key purpose was to examine the influence of Agribusiness training programme on youth empovverment and economic development in Nigeria. The study population consists of 965,157 beneficiaries of FADAMA III project. Yamane formulawas use to draw 4 sample size of 520 participants that was increased by 30% with a 93.85% response rate. Primary quantitative data was collected through a survey questionnaire with the aid of multistage sampling technique. In analyzing the collected data, the use of the PLS-SEM technique was applied in this study. In the SEM technique, a CFA test was conducted to confirm the model’s reliability and validity, whereas the results of path assessment were presented to examine the association between the variables. Findings of this study confirmed a positive and significant effect of agribusiness training programme on self-employment, income generation, poverty reduction, and standard of living among youth in Nigeria. It was recommended that training should include ٩focus on establishing agripreneurship as a source of reliable and steady income. Also, training programmes should be targeted towards individuals in dire conditions, such as rural youths. Furthermore, agricultural programmes should be practical //ا reflect environmental realities, as well as showcase agriculture as a worthwhile career choice. Finally, these programmes should incorporate added support such as the provision of adequate infrastructural and financial facilities, including the subsidization of loans to its beneficiaries.