Abuja: The Federal Government, Leonard and Nkiruka Okonkwo Foundation (LANOF), Heinrich Boll Foundation (HBF), and other stakeholders have unveiled the 2025 to 2030 revised National Youth Manifesto in Agriculture for Nigeria. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event also marked the unveiling of the 2025 Nigerian Youth in Agribusiness Call to Action.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, emphasized the significance of the manifesto as a youth-owned roadmap for agricultural transformation in Nigeria. Speaking at the event in Abuja, Kyari noted that the manifesto exemplifies how the youth are not merely beneficiaries of policy but also the architects and drivers of the country’s agricultural future. Represented by Mrs. Safina Abdullah, Deputy Director, Planning and Policy Coordination in the ministry, he noted that the unveiling symbolized a call to duty and assured commitment to translate the call to action into actionable policies, investments, and opportunities.
The manifesto outlines eight key priorities: agroecology and climate resilience, access to land and inputs, youth-responsive finance and market access, research and agritech innovation, capacity development, gender and social inclusion, policy advocacy and governance, and mentorship and intergenerational learning. These priorities are anchored on national frameworks such as the National Agriculture Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP) and the 2025 to 2030 revised National Gender Policy in Agriculture.
Kyari stated that the ministry will integrate the Nigerian Youth in Agribusiness Call to Action into the revised National Gender Policy in Agriculture and its Strategic Plan of Action 2025 to 2030. He affirmed the commitment to work with LANOF and partners to develop a comprehensive National Youth in Agribusiness Strategy aligned with the African Union’s African Agribusiness Youth Strategy (AAYS). This strategy aims to institutionalize the Nigeria Youth in Agribusiness Forum (NYAF) and provide a structured mechanism for implementing the manifesto nationwide.
Through targeted programs on mechanization, access to finance, digital platforms, capacity development, and extension services, Kyari explained that a system that empowers young farmers will be created. He commended LANOF, HBF, and youth across the geopolitical zones for their efforts and urged them to galvanize the sector with youthful strength and resilience.
Nkiruka Okonkwo, Co-Founder of LANOF, described the manifesto as a policy advocacy tool and youth empowerment mechanism for resilient and inclusive food systems. She emphasized the manifesto’s role in transforming agriculture into an inclusive and dynamic sector aligned with national food security and sustainability objectives. Okonkwo highlighted the co-creation of the manifesto by youth as a strength and called for multi-sectoral collaboration, technical support, and long-term investment.
Sophie von Knebel, Country Director, HBF, expressed optimism about the manifesto’s potential to transform Nigeria’s agricultural sector and commended the youth’s resilience. Similarly, Blessing Akhile of the National Gender Steering Committee, ActionAid Nigeria (AAN), praised the unveiling as heartwarming and reaffirmed ActionAid’s commitment to promoting inclusion in agriculture.