The federal government is pushing for a youth-led transformation of Nigeria’s agricultural sector using technology and innovation to modernise food production and strengthen food security.
Agriculture minister Abubakar Kyari, said at a policy dialogue in Abuja that the government is placing young people and women at the center of its agricultural reform agenda. The National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP) serves as a strategic framework to drive mechanisation, digital agriculture, and research commercialisation.
“Our aim is to make agriculture more attractive and rewarding for young Nigerians,” Kyari said. “We are opening up space for young voices—those who build apps, deploy drones, and run climate-smart farms.”
The government has also activated the National Agricultural Development Fund to unlock long-term capital, while President Tinubu has approved the recapitalisation of the Bank of Agriculture to the tune of N1.5 trillion, with a focus on youth- and women-led businesses.
Kyari announced that five new policy initiatives under the National Agribusiness Policy Mechanism will soon be launched, including affordable credit, business incubation, digital platforms, shared infrastructure, and data tracking systems.
AfDB Nigeria country director Abdul Kamara reaffirmed the Bank’s support for youth and women through targeted investments. He noted access to finance remains a significant hurdle, with only 11.4 per cent of enterprises having bank loans and most lacking required collateral.
Kamara cited the $618 million iDICE initiative to promote innovation in tech and creative industries and the $100 million Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank Fund aimed at MSMEs. Other major initiatives include the Ekiti Knowledge Zone and the $618 million Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones project.
He called for broader fiscal and monetary reforms to improve access to finance and emphasised that Africa’s prosperity depends on a productive, skilled youth population.
