The Agricultural Social Entrepreneurship Foundation (ASEF International) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with New Generation Nutrition (Netherlands) and FIDAS Africa to train Africans on insect farming. The signing ceremony took place at the Business Incubation Platform Office of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) on Thursday, May 30, 2024.
The objective of the MOU is to make training on Black Soldier Fly accessible to youths and women in Africa. Speaking during the ceremony, FIDAS Africa CEO Omolola Elsie Oludare stated that the training targets 100,000 Africans, with 40,000 slots reserved for Nigerians. She also mentioned that the platform will train 100 specialists/experts in the value chain to be deployed for gainful employment across Africa.
Omolola expressed FIDAS Africa’s desire to promote agriculture and food security in Africa. In an interview, ASEF CEO Rosemary Omoyeni Adebayo stated that ASEF’s role is to promote agricultural development and contribute to food security in Africa. She said ASEF will provide a 90% subsidy for the training, making it more accessible to Africans. Training in other African countries is scheduled to commence in the second half of 2024.
Rosemary mentioned that they have reached out to 9,000 religious outfits, all Nigerian governors, relevant ministries, and financial institutions to support Nigerian youths and women in accessing the training. She encouraged Nigerians to explore insect farming as a new and less risky agricultural venture.
Talking about Project Waste4Meal during the ceremony, Azeez Oluwole Saheed, the representative of the project, said that it combines waste management, climate action, food security, and agricultural real estate in a single project. He stated that the project will reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported animal feed and support local feed mills in sourcing animal protein. The project will create about 100,000 jobs across multiple African countries, with 40,000 direct jobs in Nigeria and 160,000 indirect jobs along the value chain over five to seven years.
Oluwole encouraged youths and women to enroll for the training with FIDAS Africa, as participants will also be supported in establishing their own farms and becoming cluster members. All trained persons will be formed into clusters within their respective states and be supported in accessing technology, support, and finance by the consortium of 16 companies promoting the project.
The Nigerian representative of NGN, John Olabisi Amole, expressed his enthusiasm for Project Waste4Meal and its impact across Africa. Amole, who conducted the first training cohort, said it is a great delight to see a project like Waste4Meal emerge from the earlier cohort conducted at IITA.
Dr. Adebola Ajiboye from the University of Ibadan, a pioneer in Nigeria on Black Soldier fly farming research, congratulated the parties to the MOU and expressed his happiness about the project.
The Founder and CEO of NGN, Marian Peters, present from the Netherlands, mentioned sub-Saharan Africa’s geographical advantage in maximizing the insect value chain. Marian stated that NGN has provided support for companies in several African countries and is looking to help Nigerians explore the insect value chain for livestock feed production.
NGN sponsored the training of the first cohorts of insect farmers at IITA starting in the last quarter of 2023, and more persons will be trained over the course of the year. Marian also mentioned the established relationship with the University of Ibadan regarding insect farming and training and the opportunities available for youths to engage in a relatively less risky agricultural venture.
The guest of honor at the event, the Director-General of Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA) and CEO of BIP, Dr. Debo Akande, represented by Mr. Wole Oladokun, congratulated the parties to the MOU and promised to provide necessary support for the project’s success and benefits for Nigerians.”
