Khadija Niang at the European Parliament for COLEACP

Khadija Niang embodies the future of Africa, the hope of better days for young people from modest but virtuous backgrounds. At the same time she represents all the difficulties faced by this generation from which the leaders of tomorrow must emerge, the executives who must make the African bet work; feed Africa and turn it into one of the biggest agro – industrial forces. To move beyond religious socio-cultural fatalism, by breaking the traditional codes.

The only one of a family of nine who has succeeded in getting to third level education, she is taking the risk of going off the beaten track. Having to choose between education and starting a family, taking the risk of being misunderstood by her family, by a potential future husband, are all difficult dilemmas to overcome.

She wanted to be a doctor, but the system offered her agronomy. Between feeding or healing one’s neighbor, there is little difference. After 3 years of studying for a professional qualification and 2 years of work experience in large European companies, she realized that her ability to influence her country policies and therefore the future of her peers, was too limited. She decided to find ways to continue her studies to become an engineer at a recognized European university. Savings, part-time jobs and student loans are to be managed in addition to studies.

From a distance, she continues to manage the “Green Globe”: a cooperative society that she created 2 years ago which provides agricultural services by young agronomists. On the 22nd of November at the EU parliament, Khadija had the opportunity to speak for the first time in public, which she did with fervor and brilliance.

Khadija is the first spokesperson for young African agronomists at COLEACP. Although our activities have always been directed at young people in Africa, we have decided to help them express themselves, be heard and influence the decisions that will shape their world tomorrow. Far from a ‘ fashionable trend’, more like a logical element of our methodology already applied for 5 years.

The COLEACP has founded the development of its training programs on the gap between our beneficiary company needs and the real skills on offer by Human Resources. This is how we created 100,000 jobs with our PIP 2 programme and how we are ready to ramp up to millions of jobs…. if we have the means to do so.