The federal government, the Leonard and Nkiruka Okorkwo Foundation, the Heinrich Boll Foundation, and other stakeholders unveiled the revised National Youth Manifesto in Agriculture for Nigeria on Tuesday, covering the period from 2025 to 2030.

Also unveiled was the 2025 Nigerian Youth in Agribusiness Call to Action.

Agric minister Abubakar Kyari, in his remarks at the event, which was held in Abuja, identified the gesture as a youth-owned roadmap for agricultural transformation in the country.

Mr Kyari described the manifesto as a testimony that the young populace was not just beneficiaries of policy but architects and drivers of the future of agriculture. He said the unveiling represented a call to duty.

Mr Kyari added that the ministry was committed to ensuring that the call to action was not left on paper but translated into actionable policies, investments, and opportunities.

He also said that the manifesto was a practical operational plan with eight key priorities, including agroecology and climate resilience, access to land and inputs, youth-responsive finance, and market access.

The minister listed other priority areas, including research and agritech innovation, capacity development, gender and social inclusion, policy advocacy and governance, and mentorship and intergenerational learning.

According to him, the manifesto is grounded in national frameworks for 2022 to 2027, including the National Agriculture Technology and Innovation Policy and the revised National Gender Policy in Agriculture for 2025 to 2030, among others.

“The ministry will integrate the Nigerian Youth in Agribusiness Call to Action into the revised National Gender Policy in Agriculture and its Strategic Plan of Action 2025 to 2030.

“The ministry is fully committed to working with LANOF and partners to develop a comprehensive National Youth in Agribusiness Strategy in line with the African Union’s African Agribusiness Youth Strategy.

“This strategy will institutionalise the Nigeria Youth in Agribusiness Forum and provide a structured mechanism for implementing the manifesto and the call to action nationwide,” he stated.

Mr Kyari explained that through targeted programmes on mechanisation, access to finance, digital platforms, capacity development, and extension services, a system that empowers young farmers in the country would be created.

“They will take the lead in shaping a more resilient, innovative, and inclusive agricultural sector,” he said.

He commended LANOF and HBF for their efforts to develop the revised manifesto, as well as for facilitating a bold and inclusive youth-driven process. 

He further commended the youth across the six geopolitical zones for their commitment to lending their voices, innovations, and inspiration, which have shaped the revised manifesto.

“I charge the youth to ensure the manifesto is not left alone but to be spurred by it to galvanise the sector with youthful strength and resilience. 

“Rise to the challenge. Own this process. Build enterprises, not just farms. Innovate solutions, not just demand opportunities,” he added.

(NAN)