The National Sugar Development Council has wrapped up the first batch of a specialised residential training programme aimed at building the skilled workforce needed to boost Nigeria's homegrown sugar output and cut import reliance. The council announced the completion on Monday, describing it as a crucial milestone in rolling out the National Sugar Master Plan 2.0, which aims to deliver two million metric tonnes of locally produced sugar by strengthening technical know-how in sugarcane farming and factory management.
Kamar Bakrin, the council's executive secretary and chief executive officer, spoke at the Nigeria Sugar Institute in Ilorin about what's required to reach sugar self-sufficiency. He stressed that the country needs a fresh crop of highly trained professionals who can lift productivity right across the industry's entire chain.
The revised master plan emphasises better land readiness, smarter irrigation, improved seed cane varieties and stronger factory performance to reshape Nigeria's sugar sector into one that's both profitable and competitive, Bakrin explained. He made clear that farming improvements or factory upgrades alone won't drive real change.
"Neither 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," he said.
Under the new performance-focused approach, operators face strict accountability measures while the council builds up professionals who understand both high-yield cane production and peak sugar extraction.
"We must develop personnel who master both leading-practice cane yields and peak extraction efficiency to unlock long-term economic viability," Bakrin stated. Industry players have shown strong interest in the programme, he added, signalling growing appetite for technical skills in the sector.
"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 noted.
Thirty-nine professionals completed the first intensive residential course between June 29 and July 3, 2026, while a second group of 41 trainees started training on July 13.
The curriculum covered sugarcane biology, variety selection, irrigation management, water efficiency and yield improvement. Trainees also took part in practical "Cane Clinics" where they examined real farming problems and worked with seasoned industry veterans to find answers.
The programme arranged visits to the National Museum and the Innovation Hub in Ilorin to expose participants to Nigeria's industrial past and innovation landscape. Major sugar operators from across Nigeria sent participants to the training.
