The federal government has inaugurated a strategic initiative to unlock land resources within 42 National Youth Development Centres to promote youth participation in agribusiness and expand economic opportunities nationwide.

Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, announced the initiative on Tuesday in Abuja during the inauguration of the Youth in Agribusiness Land Trust Fund (YALTF) programme.

The ministry also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to strengthen collaboration in expanding youth participation and opportunities across Nigeria’s agriculture and agribusiness sectors.

Mr Olawande said the partnership between IITA and the ministry was expanding steadily, driven by a shared commitment to broaden youth participation and unlock opportunities within Nigeria’s growing agricultural economy.

“The programme will equip young Nigerians with modern agricultural knowledge, exposure to value-chain opportunities, and climate-smart practices,” he said.

According to him, IITA’s innovative framework addresses the challenge of land access for young people in agriculture by leveraging the ministry’s National Youth Development Centres nationwide.

He said the initiative brought together state governments, development partners, and private sector players to ensure a strong multi-stakeholder approach capable of delivering lasting impact and sustainability.

The minister said IITA was ready to train more than six million young people in agriculture using the ministry’s existing database of youths already interested in agribusiness opportunities.

He said youth comprised more than 60 per cent of Nigeria’s population and, with the right opportunities, skills, and support, could drive economic growth, innovation, and agricultural transformation.

According to him, the initiative will equip young people with modern agricultural knowledge, exposure to value-chain opportunities, and climate-smart farming practices while leveraging IITA’s expertise in training, incubation, and agribusiness innovation.

In her welcome remarks, the ministry’s permanent secretary, Maryam Keshinro, described the initiative’s inauguration as a major step toward empowering Nigerian youth through agriculture.

She said the inauguration and signing of the MoU between the ministry and IITA demonstrated a strong commitment to tackling youth unemployment while strengthening national food security.

According to her, the programme aligns with the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and reflects the ministry’s commitment to delivering measurable results and inclusive opportunities for young Nigerians.

In his address, IITA director-general Simeon Ehui described the inauguration and signing of the MoU as a major step toward expanding opportunities for Nigerian youth in agriculture.

He said the initiative was built on earlier engagements with the minister and reflected a shared commitment to translating ideas into practical solutions for youth employment nationwide.

Mr Ehui added that IITA would provide technical support, training, and innovation to transform the National Youth Development Centres into hubs for agribusiness skills development and enterprise creation.

(NAN)