Lagos, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Nigeria has taken a major step toward expanding youth participation in agriculture with the launch of the National Youth in Agribusiness Land Trust Fund (YiALTF), a landmark initiative designed to unlock land access and accelerate the growth of youth-led agribusiness enterprises across the country.
The initiative, unveiled in Abuja by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development (FMYD) in partnership with the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), is expected to support more than 500,000 young Nigerians in building sustainable agribusiness ventures along the agricultural value chain.
First City Monument Bank (FCMB) is among the key financial institutions backing the programme, which is designed to remove one of the biggest structural barriers facing young agripreneurs in Nigeria—access to land.
The Youth in Agribusiness Land Trust Fund establishes a structured framework that enables young people to gain access to land for productive farming and agribusiness activities while also linking them to financing, enterprise development support, and market opportunities.
At the launch event, stakeholders from government, development agencies, financial institutions, and the private sector described the initiative as a turning point for Nigeria’s agricultural transformation agenda.
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Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, said the programme is central to the government’s broader plan to reposition agriculture as a viable engine of youth employment and economic growth.
“We want to train more than six million Nigerian youths in the coming years. We want to support at least 500,000 youth-led agribusinesses and connect young Nigerians to local and international markets,” he said. “Agriculture has the potential to create millions of jobs, improve food production, reduce poverty and accelerate economic growth, but access to land remains one of the biggest barriers.”
He noted that the new framework is designed to directly address that challenge while scaling youth participation in agribusiness.
Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, described the initiative as a strategic intervention that aligns with Nigeria’s long-term economic diversification and food security goals.
He said the fund would help dismantle long-standing structural constraints in land access and create a more enabling environment for youth-driven agricultural enterprises.
Representing FCMB at the event, Divisional Head of Agribusiness and Non-Oil Export, Kudzai Gumunyu, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to building a sustainable financing ecosystem for young agripreneurs.
He said agriculture must be repositioned as a modern, innovation-driven business capable of attracting young talent and investment.
“The future of Nigerian agriculture depends on how well we structure financing and support systems around the realities of young people and the sector,” he said. “Agriculture must be presented as a modern, technology-driven business offering opportunities in logistics, processing, commodity trading, mechanisation, digital platforms and innovation.”
Gumunyu noted that while Nigerian youths possess the creativity and adaptability needed to transform agriculture, many still struggle with access to collateral and structured financing systems required to scale their businesses.
He highlighted FCMB’s AgTech Aggregator Programme as part of its broader strategy to support youth-led innovation in agriculture, particularly in areas such as digital solutions, mechanisation and value-chain optimisation.
“Building the right ecosystem is critical. The future of Nigerian agriculture is young, climate-smart, market-driven and innovation-enabled,” he added. “To unlock its full potential, we must strengthen partnerships that improve access to finance, technical support, technology and market opportunities.”
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The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, also commended the initiative, describing it as a practical pathway for developing a new generation of agripreneurs capable of reshaping Nigeria’s agricultural economy.
He said collaboration between government, financial institutions and development partners is essential for scaling impact and ensuring sustainability.
Stakeholders at the launch, including representatives of development agencies, donor organisations, state governments and agribusiness networks, expressed optimism that the fund would significantly improve youth participation in agriculture and strengthen Nigeria’s food production capacity.
With over 500,000 youth-led agribusinesses targeted, the initiative signals a growing convergence between public policy, development finance and private sector investment aimed at repositioning agriculture as a key driver of Nigeria’s economic growth and job creation.
