UNDP and Olam Agri Partner <span class="txt-orange">to Strengthen the Livelihoods of Young People in Northeast Nigeria</span>

<span class="p2">The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Olam Agri are partnering to support young people and communities in Northeast Nigeria by providing technical and financial management skills that can help them build more sustainable livelihoods and economic opportunities. This programme, funded by the Government of Japan and carried out in collaboration with the State Governments of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, targets 200 young people from these communities, at least half of whom will be women.</span>

<span class="p2">The training will take place at our Crown Flour Baking Academy in Kano. The training in the Academy is part of Baking Brighter Futures, our pan-African initiative to build baking skills and entrepreneurship across the continent. Participants will combine intensive hands-on baking with lessons in business development, food safety and market knowledge, sharpening their technical skills and preparing their businesses for commercial success. For many, this will be an important step toward economic independence.</span>

<span class="p2">Delivered in four two-week batches, the training will dedicate approximately 70 per cent of instructional time to practical baking sessions, complemented by classroom-based learning led by professional instructors and specialists from our product development team. Training will cover advanced baking techniques, product diversification, food safety, packaging, branding, costing, pricing and marketing. Participants will also receive customised baking starter kits to help them apply their skills, improve product quality and consistency, and expand their earning opportunities.</span>

<span class="p2">By connecting UNDP’s recovery and resilience programming with our technical expertise and industry infrastructure, the partnership aims to bridge the gap between skills acquisition and viable livelihood opportunities.</span>

<span class="p2">The initiative reflects the Government of Japan's continued commitment to supporting recovery and resilience in Northeast Nigeria. Through its development cooperation, Japan is helping consolidate stabilisation gains, restore economic opportunities, and strengthen communities' capacity to rebuild their livelihoods. The collaboration also demonstrates how development assistance can catalyse private-sector expertise and investment to deliver more sustainable recovery outcomes.</span>

<span class="p2">The participation of the Borno, Adamawa and Yobe State Governments is important in aligning recovery interventions with state development priorities, strengthening local ownership and supporting the sustainability of results.</span>

<span class="p2">The collaboration builds on our wider commitment to skills development and economic empowerment in Nigeria. Our experience in professional training and entrepreneurship provides a practical foundation for the new partnership.</span>

<span class="p2">Beyond the initial training, the partnership reflects a shared commitment to recovery that goes further than immediate assistance. It demonstrates the value of collaboration between development organisations and the private sector in helping communities rebuild their economies with greater confidence and resilience.</span>

<span class="p2">Building on this initial collaboration, we are also exploring a broader strategic partnership with UNDP to strengthen sustainable food and feed value chains, women and youth enterprise development, innovation, technology transfer, market access and investment mobilisation across Nigeria.</span>