Joel Ajayi

The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, has partnered with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to launch a major youth agribusiness initiative aimed at training over six million young Nigerians and transforming 42 National Youth Development Centres into hubs of innovation and enterprise development.

The initiative was unveiled during the official media launch of the Youth in Agribusiness Land Trust Fund (YALTF) and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry and IITA.

Speaking at the event on Tuesday in Abuja the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, said the programme is designed to unlock land resources within the 42 National Youth Development Centres across the country to expand youth participation in agriculture and create sustainable economic opportunities.

He noted that Nigeria’s youthful population represents a major national asset, stressing that more than 60 percent of the country’s population are young people who, if properly empowered, can drive economic growth, innovation and agricultural transformation.

According to the Minister, the initiative will equip young Nigerians with modern agricultural knowledge, exposure to agribusiness value chains and climate-smart farming practices, while leveraging IITA’s expertise in training, incubation and agribusiness innovation.

Olawande also highlighted the collaborative framework behind the programme, explaining that it brings together state governments, development partners, financial institutions and private sector stakeholders to support youth participation in agriculture.

He further disclosed that IITA is ready to begin the training of over six million young Nigerians who have already expressed interest in agriculture, creating a strong pipeline of future agripreneurs across the country.

“Today’s launch represents a forward-looking strategy to strengthen food security, boost agricultural productivity and empower young people as key drivers of national development,” the Minister said.

He called on partners and stakeholders to work closely with the Ministry and IITA to expand the initiative and translate commitments into real opportunities for Nigerian youth.

In his remarks, the Director-General of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Simeon Ehui, described the launch of the Youth in Agribusiness Land Trust Fund and the signing of the MoU as a significant step toward expanding opportunities for young Nigerians in agriculture.

Ehui said the initiative builds on earlier engagements between IITA and the Ministry and reflects a shared commitment to move from dialogue to practical solutions for youth employment.

He stressed that with over 60 percent of Nigeria’s population under the age of 30, empowering young people through agribusiness is critical to achieving sustainable economic growth and strengthening national food security.

Ehui added that IITA will provide technical support, training and innovation to transform the National Youth Development Centres into vibrant hubs for agribusiness skills development and enterprise creation.

He noted that Nigeria remains a strategic country for IITA, with its headquarters located in Ibadan, reflecting the institute’s long-standing commitment to supporting the country’s agricultural transformation.

According to him, over the next three years, the initiative aims to train six million young Nigerians, incubate hundreds of thousands of youth-led agribusiness enterprises and convert the 42 youth development centres into centres of innovation and enterprise development.

Beyond the numbers, Ehui said the real impact of the programme lies in its potential to catalyse economic transformation by empowering young people to become agribusiness entrepreneurs.

“By empowering young people to venture into agribusiness, we are not only addressing youth unemployment, but also strengthening food security, revitalising rural communities and building a more resilient agricultural economy,” he said.

He added that the success of the initiative will depend on strong collaboration among government institutions, research organisations, development partners, financial institutions, the private sector and the young people themselves.

Also speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Maryam Ismaila Keshinro, described the initiative as a significant milestone in empowering Nigerian youth through agriculture.

She noted that the media launch of the programme and the signing of the MoU demonstrate a strong commitment by both institutions to tackling youth unemployment while strengthening national food security.

Keshinro explained that the initiative aims to expand youth access to land, digital farming tools and climate-resilient agricultural practices, while providing training and support for young agripreneurs.

According to her, the programme aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and reflects the Ministry’s commitment to delivering measurable results and inclusive economic opportunities for young Nigerians.

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