Africa Projects Development Centre

While everyone was at the FAO office in Rome, Italy last week to celebrate World Food Day, I was celebrating mine as a facilitator at the Youth Urban Agribusiness Boot Camp For New Startups where I was building the capacity of over 100 business owners of the African Development Bank Group S.Y.M.U.F. Project, European Union Healthy Diets Project and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Agrihub Project, to solve agri-food problems from a customer-centric approach (human-centred design thinking) and to build their businesses to be impactful, sustainable and profitable. As my role model, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, said, "Agriculture Cannot Afford To Remain An Old Traditional Subsistence Activity. It Must Become The Next Big Investment Magnet, A Package Of Bankable Projects That Will Turn Some Of Our Youths Into Millionaires Through Their Innovation And Enterprise." for me, it's always a pleasure to support agribusinesses and I enjoyed doing this with the team at Africa Projects Development Centre and Nguvu Consults. #Agribusiness #agrifood #Agriculture #BusinessDevelopment #healthydiet #capacitybuilding #apdc #afdb #fao #ifad #eu #SYMUF #Agrihub #agrolinking #Innovation Maaruf Yakub

The Centre seeks a Finance Intern to join our team and support our financial operations. This is a fantastic opportunity to gain hands-on experience in financial reporting, project management, and working with donor-funded projects. Responsibilities: - Assist in the financial reporting of all donor-funded projects. - Ensure adherence to sound financial management and procurement practices. - Track project budgets, and propose corrective actions when needed. - Advise on project financial progress and maintain accurate data. - Maintain clear linkages between accounts and financial statements. - Process invoices, clear receipts, and keep records of expenditures. - Assist with monthly/yearly book closure, financial reports, audits, and service contracts. - Develop and maintain a project accounting system aligned with accepted standards. - Prepare and review financial reports and bank reconciliation statements.- - Ensure transparent accounting practices by processing invoices and payment receipts. - Prepare payment requests for approved office expenditures adhering to donor regulations. - Perform other duties assigned by The Centre's management. To Apply: Submit your resume and cover letter to careers@apdcgroup.org by Wednesday, November 27th, 2024 (Application deadline extended!). #APDC #Financejobs #NowHiring

The Centre is pleased to announce a 4-day training program on mushroom cultivation, in partnership with The Challenge Fund for Youth Employment and August Secrets, to be held in Lagos. This initiative aims to equip youths and women aged (18-35) with essential skills in both urban and traditional mushroom farming techniques, along with processing methods. Join us in unlocking the economic potential of mushroom cultivation and empowering the next generation of agricultural entrepreneurs! Register Now: https://shorturl.at/AEP9C. #APDC #Sustainableagriculture #Mushroom #NigeriaAgriculture #AugustSecrets #CFYE

Join us live for Day 2 of the Youth Urban Agribusiness Bootcamp for New Start-ups! Don't miss this incredible opportunity to: Participate in real-time discussions, gain valuable insights from industry experts, and advance your innovative agribusiness ideas. Tune in to be part of the action and take your urban farming venture to the next level!. Visit: https://lnkd.in/dPyVmKha #UrbanFarming #Agriculture #Youth #Entrepreneurship

Youth Urban Agribusiness Boot Camp 2024. We are excited to announce the Youth Urban Agribusiness Boot Camp 2024 for aspiring agripreneurs! Join us this October at the Centre for an enriching experience. The boot camp promises to be an enlightening experience. It will showcase new industry trends and innovations while exploring standard business operational practices. Participants will gain insights into cluster and cooperative formation, business acceleration strategies, and more. To register, please visit this link: https://lnkd.in/d-ieEmBf. Registration is mandatory and will close on Friday, October 11th, 2024. Access is limited to invitees only.

The Centre had the honour of hosting Dr. Lekan Tobe, Ph.D. the Country Director for Heifer International in Nigeria. Mr. Maaruf Yakub, APDC’s Director of Programmes, Partnerships, and Policy warmly welcomed his visit, along with other key management team members. During his visit, Dr. Tobe shared his inspiring journey and insights into Heifer International's impactful work in Nigeria over the past 31 years. He expressed admiration for the dedication shown by the APDC team toward initiatives that are transforming lives across the region. As part of the customary protocol for such high-profile visits, Dr. Tobe was given a comprehensive tour of APDC's incubation hub facility. This included a showcase of enterprise farms, training halls, lodging facilities for beneficiaries of The Centre’s training programmes and the administrative complex. In the wrap-up dialogue, Dr. Tobe conveyed a strong interest in exploring collaborations between Heifer International and APDC. He emphasized the shared vision of both organizations to develop inclusive and impactful programs aimed at building resilient economies. The focus would be on empowering youth and women through green skills training and entrepreneurship programs, with the ultimate goal of sustainably addressing global hunger and poverty. The meeting concluded on a positive note, with both parties expressing enthusiasm for future partnerships that could further enhance their collective impact on food security and economic development in Nigeria. Stay tuned for further developments in this promising partnership. #APDC #Partnerships #Sustainabledevelopment #Impact

Today, The Centre played host to a special guest, Mr. Manir Umar, Special Adviser on Youth and Agribusiness to the Office of the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In his engaging session with our team, Mr. Umar shared his inspiring journey from a young grant recipient to a successful farmer and agro powerhouse. Mr. Umar emphasized that agriculture is not just a retirement hobby. It is also a solution to Nigeria's youth unemployment crisis. He expressed his pride in the APDC team and their commitment to making a difference. The team contributes to an organization that positively impacts countless lives. Dr. Chiji Ojukwu, Managing Director of APDC, provided Mr. Umar with a comprehensive tour of our demonstration facility, showcasing our dedication to agricultural innovation. Looking ahead, Mr. Umar expressed keen interest in future collaborations. He pledged to work with APDC to implement impactful programs for young men and women across the country, leveraging the Centre's experience in youth programs. Together, we aim to expand opportunities for Nigerian youth through green skills training, entrepreneurship programs, and urban agriculture initiatives. Stay tuned for more updates! #YouthEmpowerment #SustainableDevelopment #GreenSkills #Collaboration #CapacityDevelopment #APDCGroup #AgricultureNigeria

Earlier this week, I had the special privilege of moderating the Cohort 6 induction ceremony for over 30 interns in the Fashionistas Enterprise Programme. The event took place at the Gladys Hall of the Africa Projects Development Centre (APDC) in Abuja. The fashion and creative arts industry is a global trillion-dollar sector, yet statistics reveal a sobering reality. According to the International Labour Organization, the unemployment rate for women in Africa stands at a staggering 20%, compared to 12% for men. This disparity condemns millions of African women to unemployment and poverty. As part of APDC Group's corporate social responsibility, the Fashionistas Enterprise Programme was established and funded through generous contributions from individuals and organizations. Its mission is twofold: to bridge the gender gap in unemployment, promote gender equality, and equip aspiring fashionpreneurs, particularly women, with essential business skills such as digital marketing, finance, and entrepreneurship. The induction ceremony was a remarkable event, and I eagerly await the creative contributions the new cohort will bring to the fashion world upon graduation. I'd like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Dr. Chiji Ojukwu, Managing Director of APDC, and Mr. Maaruf Yakub, Director of Programmes, Policy & Partnership, for entrusting me with the role of moderating this occasion. It provided me with a valuable opportunity to serve and learn. Sights from the occasion are shared below! #corporatecommunications #publicspeaking #womenempowerment #sustainabledevelopment

Today, We are excited to announce the unveiling and commissioning of The Centre's new state of the art complex in Abuja, Nigeria. This expansion aims to enhance the organization's operations and efficiency. The chief guest for the event, Mr. Taiwo Adeniji, Director, Investments Group at Africa Finance Corporation (former Chief Financial Analyst at AfDB) had the honor of inaugurating the new space, with one of the buildings dedicated to him. In his dedication speech, Mr. Adeniji commended the Managing Director, Africa Projects Development Centre Dr. Chiji Ojukwu's lifelong commitment to youth capacity building, especially in agriculture. He noted how this dedication seamlessly transitioned him from a distinguished career at the African Development Bank Group to founding APDC Group, consistently empowering youth and women, driving meaningful community development, and contributing to Africa's growth. He also commended the staff, acknowledging their hardwork, and steadfast commitment to the organization's remarkable growth over the years. Mr. Adeniji expressed his gratitude in conclusion, stating, "I'm honored to have a block named after me, its small well thought-out and designed programmes such as the ones The Centre implements that impacts our people, and I pledge to continually support The Centre's mission in the years to come." The ceremony concluded with a toast by APDC’s Head of Administration, Ms. IFEOMA UMEANIA, to The Centre's continued prosperity and impact. The new complex features: Accommodations for trainees participating in our various impactful projects, with one block dedicated to Dr. Chukwuma Okonkwo, (former. Auditor General, AfDB Group), as well as new office spaces and a mini-boardroom for strategic meetings, dedicated to Dr. Felix Ndukwe, in recognition of their longstanding support for The Centre. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our partners, supporters and dedicated staff who have been instrumental in reaching this milestone. This expansion aligns perfectly with advancing our mission and represents our vision for a brighter future for African youth and women. We are excited about the increased capacity to serve our community and drive positive change across Africa, contributing to its development! #YouthEmpowerment #AfricanDevelopment #TheCentre # #CommunityImpact #Launching

Earlier today, the Africa Projects Development Centre (APDC) launched Cohort VI of the Fashionistas Enterprise with an opening ceremony. Esteemed guests, distinguished speakers, and the dedicated team at The Centre, passionate about advancing women's empowerment across Africa, graced the event, which included presentations, training overviews, and inspiring success stories. The latest interns will embark on an intensive 14-week training program tailored to equip them with excellent creative art and business skills, such as digital skills, finance, marketing and entrepreneurship, empowering them to tackle unemployment and build sustainable livelihoods. Dr. Chiji Ojukwu, the Managing Director of APDC Group, declared in his opening address, "This program is designed for women like you to acquire skills in fashion design, makeup artistry, and hairdressing. It will empower you to become sustainable entrepreneurs and conquer the global fashion industry." He emphasized the importance of diligence in participating in the program, noting that lacklustre performance would not be tolerated, while exceptional effort would be duly recognized. The CEO of Legend Fashion House, Mr. Linus Akpan, in a motivational message to the new trainees, encouraged, "Your determination and commitment will be the keys that unlock your success in this program. Give it your all, work hard, and in just a few short weeks, you'll reap the rewards of your unwavering commitment." Mr. Ademu Eteh Monday, the Agripreneurs/Creative Arts Incubation & Training Lead, spoke about the transformative potential of the training curriculum for the fashion industry. Inspiring testimonials from previous internship trainees served as a source of motivation for the new cohort. The Enterprise trainers, in turn, expressed their dedication to nurturing the next generation of fashion experts. The event concluded with closing remarks from Ms. IFEOMA UMEANIA, APDC's Head of Administration. Ms. Umeania expressed gratitude for the collaborative effort that made the ceremony successful. The entire team at The Centre eagerly awaits the creative contributions the new Cohort will bring to the fashion world, further solidifying the program's commitment to gender inclusivity and women's empowerment. #APDC #Creativearts #WomenEmpowerment #Fashionistas