By Agrobroadcast Team
The Federal Government has unveiled a new initiative aimed at opening up land resources in 42 National Youth Development Centres across the country to encourage young Nigerians to venture into agriculture and agribusiness.
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, announced the programme on Tuesday in Abuja during the launch of the Youth in Agribusiness Land Trust Fund (YALTF).
As part of efforts to strengthen the initiative, the ministry also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture to deepen collaboration in promoting youth participation and building new opportunities within Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.
Olawande explained that the partnership with IITA reflects a shared commitment to harness the potential of young Nigerians and position agriculture as a viable pathway for economic empowerment.
According to him, the programme is designed to equip youths with modern farming knowledge, provide exposure to agribusiness value chains, and promote climate-smart agricultural practices.
He noted that the framework developed by IITA would address the long-standing challenge of land access for young farmers by utilising facilities available in the ministry’s National Youth Development Centres located across the country.
The minister added that the initiative would bring together state governments, development partners, and private sector actors to create a collaborative structure capable of ensuring sustainability and measurable impact.
Olawande further revealed that IITA plans to train more than six million young Nigerians in agriculture, using the ministry’s existing database of youths who have already expressed interest in agribusiness.
He emphasised that young people account for over 60 per cent of Nigeria’s population and, when provided with the right skills and opportunities, could play a critical role in driving economic growth, innovation, and agricultural transformation.
In her welcome remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Maryam Keshinro, described the launch of the programme as a significant move toward empowering young Nigerians through agriculture.
She said the signing of the agreement with IITA demonstrates the government’s determination to address youth unemployment while also strengthening national food security.
Keshinro added that the initiative aligns with the administration’s development priorities and reflects the ministry’s focus on delivering inclusive opportunities that can produce tangible results for Nigerian youths.
Also speaking, the Director-General of IITA, Simeon Ehui, described the agreement as an important step toward creating wider opportunities for young people in agriculture.
Ehui said the initiative builds on earlier discussions with the ministry and represents a joint effort to convert policy ideas into practical solutions for youth employment.
He added that IITA would provide technical expertise, training, and innovation to transform the National Youth Development Centres into active hubs for agribusiness training, enterprise development, and youth-driven agricultural ventures.