By Abel Leonard, Lafia
Young Nigerians have showcased groundbreaking solutions to national challenges as the Community Initiative for Character Moulding and Entrepreneurship Development (CiCMED) concluded the 2025 Future Planters Bootcamp in Akwanga, Nasarawa State.
The event, which started on August 25 and ended on August 31, featured a week-long series of activities that brought together participants from across the country for sessions on leadership, entrepreneurship, innovation, and policy development. Teams worked on projects addressing agriculture, climate resilience, youth empowerment, and the creative economy.
Some of the standout innovations included greenhouse vegetable farming for year-round food security, cassava waste recycling into sustainable products, cold storage facilities to reduce post-harvest losses, and eco-friendly briquettes for cooking stoves aimed at reducing deforestation. Others explored creative tools such as songs and storytelling to foster unity and national renewal.
CiCMED’s Executive Director, Kefas Elisha Tigga, in an interview with journalists on Wednesday, said the initiative had become a platform for young Nigerians to plant seeds of change.
“This bootcamp is more than a programme; it is a movement of young Nigerians planting seeds of change,” Tigga said. “We are calling on the public, organizations, and development partners to support these youths by funding their innovations and rewarding their brilliance.”
The finalist groups include #TeamHopeFP2025, #TeamRootsFP2025, #TeamHarvestFP2025, and #TeamGreenFP2025, which are still actively engaged in online activities as part of the build-up to the Grand Finale slated for October 4, 2025, where the winning projects will be unveiled.
At the finale, CiCMED is expected to launch the Future Planters Creative Studios and present original songs produced by the teams.
The organisation has also appealed for support to provide seed funding and mentorship to help scale the most promising ideas.
For inquiries and partnership opportunities, CiCMED can be reached via 0811 242 5254, 0810 838 4177, or through its website www.cicmedngo.com.