The phrase “employment opportunity” is not something many rural youths in Nigeria can confidently say they have experienced. So when those words appear on a poster in their community or are mentioned in a sensitization meeting, it often sounds like every other promise they have learned to question.
In a country where smallholder farmers still depend on old farming methods and graduates return home with certificates but no clear pathway into work, the ISSAM project stepped into these two realities and proved it is a working bridge between unemployed young people and farmers who need access to mechanization.
One of them is Abigail Francis, 26 years old, from Doma Local Government Area, Nasarawa State. When she first heard about the ISSAM (Improving Smallholder Farmers’ Access to Small-Scale Agricultural Mechanization Services) project by TracTrac, she didn’t think much of it.
Like many young Nigerians, Abigail had grown used to seeing big promises from programmes that rarely delivered real results. So when she came across the recruitment flier for year 2 of the ISSAM project, her first reaction was doubt.
“At first, I thought it was one of those NGOs, big announcements but empty promises,” she said.
Yet, something about it still sparked her interest.
Life Before ISSAM
Abigail is a graduate of Sociology from Nasarawa State University and completed her NYSC in Gombe State. After service, life wasn’t exactly easy.
With no immediate job opportunities, she returned home to assist her mother, a grain trader, in her shop.
“I was just helping my mum sell grains. I didn’t really have a clear direction at the time.”
Why She Took the Leap
It was her father who pushed her to take the opportunity on the ISSAM project seriously.
She decided to research the programme, checking TracTrac’s social media pages and reading about their work. Convinced it was worth trying, she registered and even encouraged her sisters and cousins to do the same.
Then came the selection process.
“We wrote a test, then interviews, then medicals. The process was very thorough. I was surprised but also impressed.”
Not only did Abigail pass, but several of her family members did too.
Finally, she got an invitation to participate in Cohort 1 of the ISSAM Capacity Development Training Camp for 14 days.
Also Read: Inside the ISSAM Project: Learn about TracTrac and Mastercard Foundation’s Partnership
What the ISSAM Project Training Camp Taught Her
For Abigail, the biggest transformation was realizing she could become more than just a job seeker.
“The programme empowered me to become a mechanization service provider. I was introduced to tools and training that can make life easier for my community and me.“
Abigail didn’t just participate. She became a cooperative manager, leading a team of seven young people trained to deliver mechanization services to farmers.
A New Future in Agriculture
Abigail believes the ISSAM project will completely change her life.
“My cooperative and I plan to establish a big agricultural business. We want to sell agricultural tools and help farmers improve their work.”
Beyond impact, she’s hopeful about financial independence, too.
“Life will change financially for my family and me.”
Graduating With Purpose
On graduation day, Abigail admitted she felt emotional.
“I honestly didn’t want to go back. The environment here was so conducive for learning. Everything exceeded my expectations.”
Still, she’s excited to return to her community and begin applying what she has learned.
Looking Ahead
In the next six months, Abigail sees herself:
- Financially stable
- Supporting her family
- Helping farmers
- Creating impact in her community
Her Message to Other Youths
To young people still doubting opportunities like the ISSAM project, Abigail has simple advice:
“Don’t lose hope. Everything TracTrac posted is real. Apply. Register. Give it a chance.”
And for unemployed graduates:
“Self-employment is everything. Even without a government job, we can still survive.”
Her final words are a reminder that many young Nigerians need to hear:
“You can try again. You don’t know where luck will shine on you.”
Abigail’s story is just one of many emerging from the ISSAM project by TracTrac, in partnership with the MasterCard Foundation: a project that equips young people (ages 18–35), women, and PWDs with the skills, tools, and opportunities to drive agricultural mechanization across Nigeria.
Through cooperative models, inclusive training, and access to modern equipment, TracTrac is enabling a new generation of service providers to not only build sustainable livelihoods but also support thousands of smallholder farmers in their communities.