The Federal Government on Monday unveiled the Youth in Agribusiness Land Trust Fund, an initiative it described as a bold and strategic intervention to catalyse youth participation in agriculture, unlock agribusiness opportunities, and drive sustainable economic growth.
The initiative, launched by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development in partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in Abuja, seeks to remove longstanding barriers to youth engagement in agriculture, particularly access to land, while equipping young Nigerians with the tools needed to thrive across the agricultural value chain.
Speaking at the launch, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, described YiALTF as a game-changing intervention that will reposition agriculture as a viable and attractive enterprise for Nigerian youth.
According to a statement signed by the ministry’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Omolara Esan, the minister explained that beyond land access, the programme provides an integrated support system, including capacity building, access to finance, modern technology, mechanisation services, mentorship, business incubation, and market linkages.
“The YiALTF is not just a programme; it is a national platform for youth empowerment and economic transformation. We are creating pathways for young Nigerians to become active players and leaders in the agribusiness ecosystem,” the minister stated.
He further disclosed that the initiative will convert the ministry’s 42 youth development centres into fully operational agribusiness hubs, train six million young Nigerians within the next three years, and support the establishment of at least 500,000 youth-led agribusiness enterprises nationwide.
Also speaking, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, emphasised that efficient land utilisation and youth-driven innovation remained critical to achieving food security, economic diversification, and national development.
In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth Development, Dr Maryam Keshinro, described YiALTF as a landmark intervention that will transform underutilised public assets into productive agribusiness platforms.
She called for sustained collaboration among government agencies, development partners, and the private sector to ensure the programme’s success and long-term impact.
Gloria Ibrahim, representing the Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, commended the initiative as a practical and forward-looking response to the challenges confronting young agripreneurs, particularly in the areas of land access and enterprise development.
The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brig Gen Olakunle Nafiu, reaffirmed the scheme’s readiness to support the implementation of the initiative, while the Director-General of IITA, Dr Simeon Ehui, stressed that the true measure of success would be reflected in the number of empowered youths and thriving agribusinesses created.
As part of the launch ceremony, 10 young farmers were awarded N1m each to scale up their agribusiness ventures.
One of the beneficiaries, Orji Precious, a beekeeper, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and its partners, describing the support as timely and capable of transforming her business.
YiALTF is expected to serve as a cornerstone of the Federal Government’s broader agenda to empower young people, strengthen food systems, and position agriculture as a key driver of inclusive growth and national prosperity.
By: Deborah Musa
