…Says agriculture, tech can lift millions out of poverty
The Federal Government has called on Nigerian youth to take control of their future by actively pursuing opportunities in agribusiness and entrepreneurship, instead of relying on the increasingly limited pool of public sector jobs.
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Minister of Youth Development, Mr Ayodele Olawande, delivered this message on Monday during a High-Level Policy Dialogue on Youth and Women in Agribusiness, hosted in Abuja in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB).
Speaking on the theme “Access to Finance and Empowering Youth and Women for Agribusiness Success,” Olawande explained that the government’s new approach to youth empowerment is anchored on three core strategies: human capital development, infrastructural improvements at youth centres, and vocational training in agriculture and technology.
“We believe young people in this country should be creating jobs, not chasing government employment or aspiring only to become civil servants. With the right support, they can build thriving enterprises and lift millions out of poverty,” the minister stated.
Olawande clarified that the government is not offering handouts, but practical support in the form of tools, training, mentorship, and access to safe and inclusive spaces that will enable young Nigerians to succeed.
He acknowledged the enthusiasm many young people have for agriculture but pointed to the absence of a strong support system as a major obstacle. “We’re closing the skill gap to prepare young people for today’s economy, especially in sectors like farming, technology, and the grain industry,” he added.
The minister also expressed concern about the widening disconnect between Nigerian youth and government institutions, and called for more meaningful engagement and participatory platforms.
He commended the AfDB and other stakeholders for their continued support, and encouraged participants at the policy dialogue to help shape a viable path toward inclusive and sustainable development.
Also speaking at the event, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, said agribusiness must be repositioned as a commercially viable venture, rather than a subsistence activity. He revealed that under the Renewed Hope Agenda, the National Economic Council had approved a ward-based development scheme to stimulate agricultural productivity at the grassroots.
“With modest investment, productivity in agric-based wards can be tripled, driving job creation and wealth generation across the country,” Bagudu said.
Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Maiha, announced a new national initiative targeting 37,000 women and young people, 1,000 from each of the 36 states and the FCT, who will receive livestock and related value chain support.
“The programme will provide hands-on training in livestock management, and tangible resources including cows, goats, pigs, poultry, and beehives. We are calling on AfDB to join us in delivering this transformative intervention,” Maiha said.
Special Adviser to the President on Livestock, Prof. Attahiru Jega, commended AfDB’s contributions and said the policy dialogue was long overdue. He added that recommendations from such discussions must directly inform national policy decisions.
Echoing this sentiment, Prof. Tunji Olaopa called for urgent reforms in land tenure, mentorship structures, and access to finance. “Profitability in agribusiness depends on removing entrenched barriers that prevent youth and women from accessing the resources they need,” he said.