Abuja: The Federal Government has announced plans to enhance youth agripreneurship as part of efforts to transform food systems in Nigeria. Sen. Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, revealed this initiative during a Youth Agripreneurs Workshop for Food Systems Transformation in Abuja. The workshop, themed ‘Scaling Youth Agripreneurship for Food Systems Transformation,’ was organized by the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise-Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) Project.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the minister emphasized the innovative role of youth in agrifood systems, citing their involvement in precision agriculture, AI-powered farm tools, soilless farming, digital marketplaces, and agro-processing. However, he noted that despite these advances, youth involvement remains inconsistent due to challenges such as limited access to finance, land, and markets.
The minister highlighted a focused commitment to change this narrative by scaling up youth agripreneurship across Nigeria. He outlined specific goals, including unlocking land and productive resources for young farmers, ensuring secure land tenure, and promoting responsible stewardship. Sen. Kyari also mentioned President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to position agriculture as a key driver of economic transformation and a central pillar of Nigeria’s national development agenda.
The government has piloted youth-led agripreneurship models, expanded agro-processing and agribusiness incubation, and leveraged digital tools to connect farmers to markets and finance. Sen. Kyari urged stakeholders to foster collaborative ecosystems where young agripreneurs can contribute to national prosperity. He stressed the importance of inclusive participation, ensuring equal access to opportunities for women, persons with disabilities, and marginalized groups.
Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, Permanent Secretary in the ministry, aligned the event with the Federal Government’s strategic goal of transforming agriculture into a viable and competitive sector. He emphasized the workshop’s role in harnessing the energy, innovation, and entrepreneurial drive of the youth to transform agriculture into a thriving enterprise.
In a goodwill message, Ms. Dede Ekoue, Country Director of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), reiterated IFAD’s commitment to supporting youth agripreneurship programs in Nigeria. Mr. Temi Adegoroye, Sahel Consulting Managing Partner, emphasized the youth’s role in driving innovative changes for a transformed food system in Nigeria.
Dr. Abiodun Sanni, National Project Coordinator of the LIFE-ND Project, reported that over 29,620 youths and women have been trained and empowered as agripreneurs across priority value chains, including cassava, rice, oil palm, aquaculture, poultry, and horticulture.