The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, says the federal government is rebranding the livestock sector through innovation, technology and modern practices to attract youths into agriculture.

Mr Maiha said this in Kano on Saturday at the Arewa Agric and Innovation Summit 2026, where he delivered a keynote address.

He said the summit brought together youths from across the North and other parts of the country to explore innovative solutions to challenges in agriculture.

He said the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development by the President Bola Tinubu administration was a significant step toward transforming the sector.

According to him, such a development has not occurred in the country’s 64-year history.

“Now, the agriculture sector is beckoning the youths. We are rebranding the sector.

“It is not about the agriculture or livestock practices that we have traditionally inherited, where somebody looks haggard, old, poor and with hard work showing all over the place.

“No. The issue here today is that we are unlocking the entire value chain from lab to land, from grass to glass,” he said.

Mr Maiha said the government was promoting modern agricultural practices, including improved processing, feedlots, ranching, and cow-calf operations.

He said technology-driven livestock management systems would also be deployed to improve productivity.

The minister said digital tools, including herd management systems and drones equipped with high-definition sensors, could help monitor animal growth, pasture conditions, soil temperature and water stress.

He said Nigeria’s livestock sector could support an economy driven by growing demand for animal-sourced proteins.

Mr Maiha said the government was also working to improve livestock value chains through better abattoir operations, dairy processing, tannery development and footwear production.

“We are talking about consciously feeding Nigerians. We are talking about food security. This is what the Agri Summit is all about,” he said.

He commended young innovators at the summit, saying their creativity and ideas demonstrated the important role youths could play in addressing challenges in agriculture.

“This country belongs to the youths, and that is why we are here to tell them: wake up, get up, move up, rise, learn to settle and take up the driver’s seat,” Mr Maiha said.

Earlier, Prof. Attahiru Jega, co-chairman of the Presidential Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee (PLRIC), urged stakeholders to prioritise innovation-driven agriculture and entrepreneurship.

Mr Jega, who is also the summit chairman, said the event was designed to turn young Nigerians’ interest in agriculture into skills, businesses and economic opportunities.

He said findings from the Youth Opportunity Summit held across seven states and three geopolitical zones showed strong interest among youths and women in agriculture.

He added that 200 emerging agricpreneurs benefited from a five-day pre-summit capacity-building programme.

He commended the organisers, including the Office of the Technical Adviser to the Vice President on Women, Youth Engagement and Impact, for promoting agricultural innovation and enterprise development.

Also speaking, Hajiya Hauwa Liman, convener and technical adviser to Vice President Kashim Shettima on Women, Youth Engagement and Impact, said the government was committed to strengthening youth and women empowerment initiatives.

Ms Liman said the summit was designed to connect young Nigerians with tools, networks and support systems to turn their ideas into practical solutions.

She urged youths to explore opportunities in agriculture, technology and other sectors.

She said agriculture offered opportunities beyond farming, including logistics, processing and entrepreneurship.

Ms Liman said such opportunities could help position Northern Nigeria and the country as a leading agricultural innovation hub.

(NAN)