FG prioritizing youth in agric ecosystem with financial inclusion, others—Minister

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen Abubakar Kyari, has disclosed that the Federal Government is prioritizing youth inclusion youth in the agricultural ecosystem with financial inclusion, economic opportunities, and enabling environments.

Kyari stated this while he received 
the United Nation (UN) delegation led by the Assistant Secretary General Youth Affairs, Dr. Felipe Paullier, on a courtesy visit at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.

According to him, the Tinubu-led administration’s initiatives in the agricultural sector is driving Nigeria’s agricultural transformation – operationalization of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) and the N1.5 trillion recapitalization of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA).

He described them as one of the largest agricultural finance commitments in the country’s history, saying that, “These measures will expand access to affordable finance for youth led agribusinesses.”

He emphasized that the Federal Government has targeted programmes, whereby, it would enhance the productivity of young farmers such as mechanization, access to finance, digital platforms, and extension services, and this would lead to empowering a new generation of farmers. 

Meanwhile, the Minister extensively spoke on what Nigerian youth are doing in food production, which he gave example of young innovators including Samson Ogbole, Femi Adekoya, Atinuke Lebile, and Azeez Salawu who had played a significant role and made huge impact in shaping policy and practice, as well as pioneering projects in soilless farming, drone technology, biofortified crops, and ecosystem coordination.

In his remarks, the UN Assistant Secretary General Youth Affairs, Dr. Felipe Paullier said his organisation’s Youth office was established by the General Assembly to lead the engagement and advocacy for the advancement of youth related issues across the United Nation’s Members.

He added that the office would foster increase in access to resources, land, technology, information and boost youth participation in policy dialogue. 

Earlier, in an address of welcome, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi revealed that the procurement of 2,000 tractors and over 9,000 agricultural implements, the largest mechanization drive in Nigeria’s history aimed at enhancing productivity and creating decent employment opportunities for youth in agribusiness

“This is the largest mechanization initiative in Nigeria’s history. This bold intervention will expand access to modern machinery, enhance productivity, and create new opportunities for youth in machinery operation, maintenance, and agribusiness services. It is part of our deliberate effort to make agriculture a field of innovation, dignity, and decent work for the next generation”, Ogunbiyi added.

During his Goodwill message, young Agriprenur, Tobi Jeremiah Olanrewaju lauded the Federal Government for providing financial intervention through National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), free Agricultural inputs and implements to young farmers in Nigeria.