PRESS RELEASE
February 26, 2026
The Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to youth empowerment through improved land access, innovation, and agriculture-driven opportunities. This followed a detailed presentation by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to the Ministry.
The Minister expressed strong satisfaction with the quality of preparation and the innovative design of the proposed programme, describing it as a strategic intervention capable of unlocking substantial economic opportunities for Nigerian youth.
He emphasised that the Ministry is deliberately prioritising access to land for young people through the establishment and activation of National Youth Development Centres across the country. These centres, he stated, will serve as a solid foundation for sustainable youth participation in agriculture and agribusiness.
The Minister highlighted the initiative’s collaborative and inclusive model, which brings together state governments, development partners, and the private sector to ensure maximum impact and nationwide coverage.
A major highlight of the presentation was the IITA-led training initiative, now scaled up to equip over six million Nigerian youth with practical agricultural skills. Olawande noted that this represents a significant expansion from earlier projections, underscoring the transformative power of strong institutional partnerships in achieving national development goals.
He further stressed the critical role of the Ministry’s comprehensive youth database in identifying and engaging young Nigerians with a genuine interest in agriculture, while ensuring equitable participation across all geopolitical zones.
On implementation, Comrade Olawande called for swift and decisive action, stating that the programme’s success hinges on a rapid execution timeline. He explained that activities will formally commence upon the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. Following the MoU, he added, technical teams from both institutions will immediately begin project execution.
The Minister reiterated the Ministry’s full readiness to collaborate closely with IITA to guarantee timely delivery, transparency, accountability, and measurable impact. He noted that Nigerian youth are eager for practical opportunities that lead to job creation, enterprise development, and enhanced food security.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Maryam Ismaila Keshinro, stated that the initiative aligns seamlessly with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which prioritises youth empowerment and food security as cornerstones of Nigeria’s development strategy.
She described the partnership with IITA as a pivotal step toward transforming the agricultural sector and announced plans to designate selected National Youth Development Centres as integrated agricultural hubs nationwide. These hubs, she explained, will serve as platforms for vocational and technical training, with a strong focus on climate-smart agriculture, digital innovation, and improved market access.
In her remarks, the CEO of IITA Youth in Agribusiness, Aline Mugisho, highlighted Nigeria’s demographic advantage for agribusiness-led youth empowerment.
“With over 60 percent of Nigeria’s population—approximately 125 million people—being young, agriculture remains one of the most powerful pathways for job creation and enterprise development. It is currently the second-largest employer of labour in the country,” she stated.
This partnership marks a significant milestone in positioning Nigerian youth at the heart of agricultural innovation, economic inclusion, and sustainable national development.
Omolara Esan
Director, Information & Public Relations
