Nigeria’s agricultural sector received a major boost as the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and the International Fund for Agricultural Development confirmed a sweeping plan to empower at least 30,000 rural youths through the expanding AgriHub programme.
The announcement followed a high-level round table in Abuja attended by development partners, government officials, embassies, financiers and private sector stakeholders, all focused on opening new job and enterprise opportunities across key value chains such as rice, cassava, soybean, tomato, groundnut and sesame.
IFAD Country Director Dede Ekoue said the first phase of the initiative delivered results far beyond projections. She noted that the youth employability component surpassed its goal, while the entrepreneurship arm achieved about 150 percent of its target by helping young Nigerians establish their own ventures.
Read also:
- Edo sustaining investment in agriculture, tech, manpower devt, others
- U.S.–Nigeria agricultural trade set for dramatic surge to over $700 Million in 2025
- Agricultural, industrial sectors boost GDP growth to 3.98%-NBS
More than 7,000 youths were engaged during the pilot phase, prompting partners to prepare for a broader rollout across the nine Niger Delta states along with Benue, Enugu and Anambra, with further expansion planned for the North-East and North-West.
IITA’s AgriHub Project Coordinator, Adesanya Omotomiwa, explained that lessons learned from the first phase will guide a more targeted expansion, particularly in vulnerable and conflict-affected regions.
He said the programme aims not only to secure job placements for thousands of young people but also to support about 30 percent of participants in launching their own enterprises. He emphasised that sustained monitoring remains central to achieving long-term success.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, represented by Director Iluromi Adebola, described the initiative as a strong reflection of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He said the government’s participation underscores a shared resolve to unlock the potential of rural youth and transform national food systems through innovation, practical skills and enterprise-driven growth.
