Abuja: The Federal Government and Heifer Nigeria, an international NGO, have rallied young agritech innovators to harness technology to revolutionize Nigeria’s agricultural sector. This call to action was made during the grand finale of the 2025 Agriculture, Youth and Technology (AYuTe) Nigeria Challenge, held in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the AYuTe Challenge, now in its fourth season, is an initiative by Heifer International designed to empower agritech innovators with skills, grants, resources, market access, and mentorship. This initiative aims to transform Nigeria’s agricultural landscape and foster economic growth.
Alhaji Idi Mukhtar-Maiha, Minister of Livestock Development, emphasized the importance of youth in driving social and economic development through innovative ideas and technology. He revealed that the National Livestock Growth Strategy, recently approved by the National Economic Council, aims to increase the sector’s value from 32 billion dollars to 74 billion dollars by 2035 through collaboration with the private sector, state governments, and investors. He expressed optimism, stating, “These young minds are not seeking white-collar jobs but are venturing into agribusiness with innovative solutions for agriculture and livestock.”
Mr. Ayodele Olawande, Minister of Youth Development, highlighted the necessity of empowering youth to address food insecurity, which hampers community potential and national progress. Represented by Ms. Kehinde Awujoola, Special Assistant on Gender Affairs, Olawande encouraged collaboration to spark an agricultural revolution driven by Nigerian youth.
Dr. Lekan Tobe, Country Director of Heifer International, announced that 40,000 dollars in grants were awarded to the top three finalists out of over 1,000 applicants. These grants aim to support the winners in scaling their innovations and encourage other youths to refine their ideas into business ventures and job opportunities.
Dr. Michael Ojo, Country Director of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), urged the youth to develop solutions for better access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food, addressing malnutrition issues. Similarly, Jafar Abubakar, Director-General of the Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG), described the AYuTe Challenge as a platform for young Nigerians to drive economic growth, create jobs, and improve food access.
The event saw Deborah Oigocho, founder of Erido Agro, secure the second runner-up position with an 8,000 dollars grant. Aisha Rilwanu-Sidi, founder of Grabb Livestock, received 12,000 dollars as the second-place winner. Seyi Alabi, co-founder of Crop2Cash, emerged as the overall winner, receiving a 20,000 dollars grant for their innovative digital platform supporting smallholder farmers.
The event also included panel discussions on the theme “NextGen Agritech: Leveraging Youth and Innovation to Power Nigeria’s Food System,” along with award presentations and a documentary showcasing the AYuTe Nigeria Challenge’s impact.