Nigerians interested in building careers or businesses in the agriculture and agribusiness sector can apply for the SUSTAIN Developing Agribusiness Talent Training Programme 2026, a free skills development initiative designed to prepare participants for employment and entrepreneurship opportunities in Nigeria’s agribusiness sector.
The programme is part of the Strengthening Underlying Systems and TVETs for Agribusiness Innovation in Nigeria (SUSTAIN) project, an Agricultural Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ATVET) initiative led by Sydani under the Team Europe Initiative Opportunity-driven Skills and Vocational Education and Training in Africa (TEI OP-VET).
Through the programme, participants can develop practical skills in agribusiness management, value-chain development, digital agriculture, data analytics and entrepreneurship.
What the SUSTAIN Programme Offers
The training is structured into three progressive levels, allowing participants to move from basic agribusiness knowledge to specialised career skills and eventually entrepreneurship.
Level 1 – Become an Agribusiness Generalist
Level 1 provides a foundation for people who want to understand how the agribusiness sector works.
Training areas include:
Agribusiness Management Principles
Value Chain Analysis and Development
Gender and Social Inclusion
Digital Agribusiness Tools and E-Commerce
The level runs for three months and uses a self-paced learning format.
Participants receive a certificate upon completion and can also access job-placement support.
Eligibility: Open to all interested participants.
Level 2 – Develop Specialised Agribusiness Skills
Participants who complete Level 1, or have equivalent agribusiness knowledge, can progress to Level 2.
The programme uses a hybrid learning format and focuses on specialised skills linked to employment opportunities in the agribusiness sector.
The initial training areas include Agribusiness Digital Systems and Data Analytics, while additional courses will be developed around identified industry skills gaps.
Level 2 runs for another three months and comes with a certificate and job-placement support.
Level 3 – Build Your Agribusiness
Level 3 is designed for participants who want to turn their skills and ideas into viable agribusiness ventures.
The training covers areas such as:
Agribusiness Innovation and Investment Pitching
Entrepreneurship
Business plan development
Costing and pricing
Negotiation with suppliers and buyers
Setting up or strengthening a micro-enterprise
This level is delivered fully in person over three months.
Participants who complete the level receive a certificate and can access a soft grant pathway. Spaces are limited.
Who Can Apply?
The SUSTAIN programme is suitable for Nigerians interested in developing a career or business in agribusiness.
For Level 1, the official programme page states that the training is open to all interested participants.
To progress to Level 2, applicants must have completed Level 1 or have equivalent knowledge.
Level 3 is open to people who have completed Level 2 or have equivalent knowledge, with limited spaces available.
The programme can therefore be relevant to graduates, aspiring entrepreneurs, early-career professionals and others looking to build skills for Nigeria’s agribusiness sector.
Benefits of the Programme
Successful participants can gain:
Free agribusiness training
Professional certificate upon completion
Practical knowledge of agribusiness and value chains
Digital agribusiness and data skills
Job-placement support
Specialised career development
Entrepreneurship and business-development training
Access to a soft grant pathway at Level 3
The SUSTAIN project is focused on strengthening skills and creating pathways into employment within Nigeria’s agribusiness sector.
How to Apply
Interested applicants can register through the official SUSTAIN platform.
Applicants who want to receive updates about available courses, training opportunities and relevant job openings can also join the programme’s waitlist through the registration page.
Apply/Join the SUSTAIN Programme: SUSTAIN Official Website
Programme Details
Programme: SUSTAIN Developing Agribusiness Talent
Location: Nigeria
Training: Free
Level 1 Duration: 3 months
Level 1 Format: Self-paced
Level 2 Format: Hybrid
Level 3 Format: In-person
Certificate: Yes, upon completion
Job Placement Support: Available
Level 3 Grant Pathway: Available
Eligibility: Level 1 is open to all interested participants