06/10/2026
Exactly 1 year ago today, I arrived at Soilless Farm , Awowo, Ogun State, for the Enterprise for Youths in Agriculture Project Cohort 12, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.
I almost gave up after applying twice and getting turned down—but my persistence paid off on the 3rd attempt.
Across that intensive training period, 1,000 youths from across Nigeria and beyond came together for hands-on, practical ex*****on:
• Infrastructure: Constructing 60 screenhouses and 20 nethouses from the ground up.
• Modern Agronomy: Deep dives into greenhouse technology, hydroponics, vegetable crop production, and precise agronomic practices.
• Agribusiness: Mastering farm management and commercial operations.
The learning went far beyond core farming. We were exposed to high-value skills and complementary ventures:
• Effective Communication & Public Speaking with Miracle Ogbu and the Ecogrix community.
• Livestock & Protein Diversification: Fisheries, rabbitry, snailery, and Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae production with Smart Farm Initiative.
From Knowledge to Ex*****on
Over the past year, that training translated directly into real-world results. I’ve practically raised tomatoes, bell peppers, habanero peppers, and cucumbers—moving from theoretical knowledge to data-driven decision-making and practical mastery in the field.
Gratitude
• Heartfelt appreciation to Farmer Samson Ogbole for pioneering the vision to help young people Work, Learn, and Earn.
• Immense gratitude to the Mastercard Foundation for making this initiative possible.
• Special thanks to Mr. Miracle ogbu for your unwavering support and guidance throughout this journey.
The journey of continuous learning and building sustainable agribusiness continues!
I’m Igboke Chiadikaobi Emmanuel — The Zealous Farmer 🌾🚜
