Government, Foundations, and Stakeholders Roll Out 2025–2030 Youth Agribusiness Strategy

The Federal Government, in partnership with the Leonard and Nkiruka Okorkwo Foundation (LANOF), Heinrich Boll Foundation (HBF), and other stakeholders, has launched the 2025–2030 National Youth Agribusiness Strategy to strengthen youth participation and drive transformation in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

The strategy, unveiled in Abuja, introduces a revised National Youth Manifesto in Agriculture alongside the Nigerian Youth in Agribusiness Call to Action 2025.

Both initiatives provide a structured roadmap for integrating young people into agribusiness through policy reforms, targeted investments, and innovation-driven solutions.

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, represented by Deputy Director of Planning and Policy Coordination Mrs. Safina Abdullah, described the rollout as a youth-owned blueprint that places young Nigerians at the center of agricultural transformation.

According to the Minister, the strategy aligns with the National Agriculture Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP 2022–2027) and the revised National Gender Policy in Agriculture (2025–2030).

It prioritizes eight key areas: agroecology and climate resilience, access to land and inputs, youth-responsive finance, market access, agritech innovation, research, capacity development, gender inclusion, policy advocacy, and intergenerational mentorship.

Kyari confirmed that the Ministry will integrate the Youth in Agribusiness Call to Action into national frameworks and ensure translation into actionable policies and investments.

“They will take the lead in shaping a more resilient, innovative, and inclusive agricultural sector,” he said.

Co-Founder of LANOF, Nkiruka Okorkwo, emphasized that the manifesto is a policy advocacy tool designed to empower youth across agricultural value chains.

She noted that its development was co-created with young people nationwide, ensuring it reflects their needs and aspirations.

“The strength of this manifesto lies in its co-creation by the youth, and for the youth. These strategies outlined require multi-sectoral collaboration, technical support, and long-term investment,” Okorkwo stated.

The Country Director of HBF, Sophie von Knebel, also commended the collaboration, stressing that the framework provides a pathway to build inclusive food systems and sustainable employment for Nigeria’s young population.

Nigeria’s agricultural sector, which contributes over 25% to GDP and employs more than one-third of the workforce, faces mounting challenges from climate change, limited financing, and weak mechanization.

With public finances under strain and high unemployment among youth, the government’s revised strategy is seen as a necessary step toward food security and long-term economic stability.

The 2025–2030 Youth Agribusiness Strategy aims to institutionalize the Nigeria Youth in Agribusiness Forum (NYAF), providing a structured platform for policy implementation, private-sector engagement, and innovation scaling.

Analysts note that successful implementation will depend on effective financing, transparent monitoring, and coordination across federal and state governments. If executed, the strategy could position Nigeria’s youth as key drivers of agricultural modernization and reduce dependency on food imports.