NSDC launches elite training cohorts to drive Nigeria’s sugar revolution

The National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) has concluded the pioneer cohort of its landmark residential training program grounded in the strategic framework of the National Sugar Master Plan (NSMP) 2.0.

This initiative signals a definitive push to build a world-class workforce capable of transforming the nation’s industrial landscape, aligning field and factory capabilities to hit the national target of 2 million metric tonnes (MT) of domestic sugar production.

Speaking at the state-of-the-art Nigeria Sugar Institute (NSI) campus in Ilorin, NSDC Executive Secretary/CEO Kamar Bakrin asserted that the industry’s future hinges entirely on a new caliber of specialised professionals who can drive strict efficiency and profitability across the value chain.

Barkin explained that under the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan (NSMP) 2.0, this means executing core empirical pillars—from accelerated land preparation and advanced irrigation to high-yield seed cane production.

He said either field productivity nor factory efficiency, on its own, can move the needle greatly.

“True sustainability—and the ultimate elimination of our import dependency—demands that we fuse the two.

“Under the performance-driven framework of NSMP 2.0, we are holding operators to strict accountability.

” We must develop personnel who master both leading-practice cane yields and peak extraction efficiency to unlock long-term economic viability.

“The market’s response to the maiden initiative has already shattered expectations.

“The overwhelming demand and deep engagement from stakeholders underscore an acute technical talent deficit that the NSDC is systematically addressing to support rapid sector expansion,” he said.

According to him, the intensive curriculum bypasses conventional, passive teaching in favor of a dynamic, experiential framework.