The Transforming African Agricultural Universities to Meaningfully Contribute to Africa’s Growth and Development (TAGDev 2.0) Program at Egerton University held a successful onboarding meeting with Nyandarua National Polytechnic on 4th June 2025, under the Agrifood Systems & Entrepreneurship Consultum (ASEC) Project. The engagement was aimed to officially launch the project and lay the groundwork for collaborative implementation of youth-focused development activities.
The onboarding meeting brought together key stakeholders including the polytechnic’s management, trainers, and TAGDev program secretariat. Discussions centered around the objectives of the ASEC project, which seeks to enhance the employability and entrepreneurial capacity of young women and men in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions. Through the strategic partnership with Nyandarua National Polytechnic, the project aims to strengthen the skills amongst young people and create job opportunities for the young women and men. The Principal Nyandarua National Polytechnic Mr. Felix Mung'atu together with the Deputy Principal Mary Ng'ang'a -Deputy Principal, P.A.F (Planning Administration and Finance) in their opening remark emphasized on impact driven intervention and they assured their continued support throughout implementation of the project. They were also grateful for being part of the consortium partners and assured that all members of the institution will work together to ensure that the project is a success and it will leave impact that will last long even after the project completion.
Speaking during the session, TAGDev Program Coordinator Prof. Nancy Mungai emphasized that the project must go beyond ticking boxes and counting numbers. “We are not just looking at activities completed, we want to see lives transformed, jobs created, and communities impacted,” she said. As part of its deliverables, Nyandarua National Polytechnic will work toward strengthening at least one farmer cooperative, engaging 200 out-of-school youth in meaningful employment, supporting the establishment of six youth-led startups, reaching 5,000 smallholder farmers with services, planting 100,000 trees, and creating 1,000 new jobs.
Wallace Kiiru, the ASEC project lead in the institution highlighted the different strategies they have put in place to n ensure they meet the deliverables. “The institution outlined several strategies: these include forming multi-stakeholder partnerships, using student-led innovation to drive enterprise, providing ongoing mentorship and business incubation support, and integrating community-based learning into training programs,” he explained. The institution also plans to leverage existing agricultural networks and extension services to maximize outreach and sustainability.”
In addition to the onboarding session, the TAGDev 2.0 team conducted a Job Readiness Training for over 600 students at the polytechnic. The training covered practical skills such as CV writing, job search strategies, effective communication, workplace ethics, and interview preparation. The interactive sessions allowed students to reflect on their personal career goals and understand what is expected of them in the job market.
Students expressed appreciation for the opportunity, noting that the training filled a critical gap between classroom learning and the demands of the job market. For many, it was their first exposure to structured employability training, and the sessions sparked motivation, hope, and readiness to pursue jobs or start their own ventures.
“The training was very insightful. It helped me think about my future differently and gave me confidence that I can succeed beyond school,” said one of the student participants.
This initiative is part of the wider TAGDev 2.0 efforts to promote youth empowerment through targeted capacity building, mentorship, and institutional engagement. By investing in soft skills and employability support, the program is helping students bridge the gap between education and opportunity. As implementation continues, more TVET students will benefit from similar interventions, laying the foundation for a generation of skilled, confident, and job-ready youth in Kenya and beyond.
Written By:
Ian Kamau.
Communication Intern, TAGDev 2.0 Program, Egerton University.