The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari has said that scaling up youth agripreneurship is inevitable in Nigeria’s agri-food systems transformation, stressing that innovation, technology, funding support and entrepreneurship remain central to food security, economic growth and a resilient agricultural ecosystem.
Kyari stated this during the high-level event on Scaling up Youth Agripreneurship in Nigeria for Food Systems Transformation through the FGN/NDDC/IFAD Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) Project held in Abuja.
Kyari explained that young agripreneurs, driven by ingenuity and determination, are increasingly taking the lead in agrifood innovation across a broad spectrum of activities, including precision agriculture, AI-powered farm tools, soilless farming, financing and payment platforms, digital marketplaces and agro-processing.
He said these young innovators are demonstrating creativity, technical expertise, and a shared commitment to sustainable development, showing readiness to transform agrifood systems, create dignified livelihoods and drive inclusive economic growth across the country.
The minister said strategic investments and strengthened partnerships with civil society, the private sector and development partners have already produced proof of concept.
He noted that youth-led agripreneurship models have been piloted, agro-processing and agribusiness incubation expanded and digital tools deployed to connect farmers to markets and finance, illustrating what becomes possible when policy aligns with purpose. He said these gains show clearly that a coordinated effort can accelerate Nigeria’s agricultural transformation.
Kyari highlighted key measures required to scale up youth agripreneurship nationwide. These include unlocking land and productive resources for young farmers, expanding access to inclusive finance and credit guarantees, accelerating business development support such as mentorship, and strengthening market systems through digital platforms.
He said these interventions will open up opportunities, reduce barriers that have historically limited youth participation, and create a more efficient and attractive agricultural landscape.
He stressed the need to reinforce specific support pillars to ensure long-term success. These include a land access and tenure assistance programme prioritising youth eligibility and transparent allocation processes; an innovative financing mechanism with blended finance options and simplified access for youth-led agribusinesses, supported by clear decision-making timelines; an expanded suite of business development services including mentorship networks, virtual incubation and strengthened market linkages with measurable success indicators; and a digital platform enabling youth agripreneurs to showcase products, access buyers and receive real-time market intelligence.
Kyari added that a practical climate adaptation and risk management framework must be integrated into all youth-focused programmes, supported by training on sustainable farming, post-harvest handling and value addition.
He also emphasised the importance of a robust monitoring, evaluation and learning system capable of tracking progress by age, gender, region and value chain, with lessons shared publicly to support replication and scaling.
The minister said the FGN/NDDC/IFAD-assisted Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in the Niger Delta stands as clear evidence of what can be achieved through coordinated youth-focused interventions. The project, he noted, has demonstrated strong results in building capacity, expanding livelihoods and strengthening community resilience.
Kyari called on all actors, including government ministries and agencies, financial institutions, development partners, the private sector, academia, farmers’ organisations and young agripreneurs to work together.
He urged stakeholders to align incentives so that risk-taking is rewarded and success is shared, and to build ecosystems where collaboration outpaces competition and every young agripreneur has an opportunity to contribute to national prosperity.
The minister thanked development partners, the private sector and supporters who have contributed to progress so far, saying their collaboration reinforces confidence that scaling up youth agripreneurship is not only achievable but inevitable.
In his welcome remarks, the permanent secretary of the ministry, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi said the objective of the event aligns with the Federal Government’s strategic goal of repositioning agriculture as a viable, wealth-creating and competitive sector capable of reducing unemployment, deepening value addition and contributing substantially to national prosperity.
He said the vision is for an agricultural landscape where young agripreneurs emerge as innovators, employers, and industry leaders across processing, logistics, technology and value chain development.
Ogunbiyi added that the LIFE-ND project is unique because of its incubation model, which nurtures young agripreneurs through skills development, hands-on vocational training, structured mentorship by established agribusinesses, access to digital tools and modern technologies, market linkages and full value chain integration.
During his vote of thanks, the national project coordinator, Dr. Abiodun Sanni said the LIFE-ND project has shown that with the right model, Nigeria can convert its youthful population from job seekers to agripreneurial wealth creators capable of transforming the nation’s food system.
He expressed confidence that with sustained commitment and expanded partnerships, LIFE-ND will continue evolving into a national model for agricultural prosperity, food security and economic resilience.
A statement by the ministry’s head of information, Ezeaja Ikemefuna revealed that the project has already created more than 23,751 direct rural jobs and increased household incomes among beneficiaries by an average of 50 percent, contributing to poverty reduction and stronger community resilience
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