FRI DEC 19 2025-theGBJournal| Abubakar Kyari, The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, has reasserted the importance of innovation, technology, funding support and entrepreneurship in Nigeria’s push for food security, economic growth, and resilient agricultural ecosystem.
He believes also that scaling up of youth agripreneurship is inevitable in agri food systems transformation, while
Kyari pushed his case during a recent event- the FGN/NDDC/IFAD assisted Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in the Niger Delta-held in Abuja.
He said that young agripreneurs, fueled by ingenuity and determination, are taking the lead in agrifood innovation-from precision agriculture to AI-powered farm tools, soilless farming, financing and payment platforms, digital marketplaces, and agro-processing.
He pointed out that ‘’they are leading with innovation and a shared commitment to sustainable development and are ready to transform agrifood systems, create dignified livelihoods and drive inclusive economic growth in our dear Nation, Nigeria’’.
According to the Minister, through strategic investments and strengthened partnerships with civil society, the private sector and development partners have already demonstrated proof of concept.
”We have piloted youth-led agripreneurship models, expanded agro-processing and agribusiness incubation and leveraged digital tools to connect farmers to markets and finance, showing what is achievable when policy aligns with purpose.”
He highlighted measures to scale up youth agripreneurship across the country, including unlocking land and productive resources for young farmers, expanding access to inclusive finance, credit guarantees, and accelerating business development support – mentorship as well as strengthening market systems through digital platforms, among others.
The Minister emphasized the need to strengthen the following support pillars:
-A land access and tenure assistance program that prioritizes youth eligibility and transparent processes
-An innovative fund/financing mechanism with blended finance options and simplified access for youth-led agribusinesses, including maximum timelines for decision making
-An expanded set of business development services, including mentorship networks, virtual incubation, and market linkages, with measurable success metrics
-A digital platform for youth agripreneurs to showcase products, access buyers, and receive real-time market intelligence.
He argued for a practical and proactive climate adaptation and risk management framework integrated into all youth-led programs.
He said, with training on sustainable farming, post-harvest handling, and value-added processes and a robust monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) system that tracks progress by age, gender, region, and value chain, and shares lessons learned publicly, are key.
The Minister called on all actors—government ministries and agencies, financial institutions, development partners, the private sector, academia, farmers’ organizations, and, most importantly, young agripreneurs— to join hands.
”Let us align our incentives so that risk-taking is rewarded and success is shared. Let us build ecosystems where collaboration eclipses competition and where every young agripreneur has a fair chance to contribute to our national prosperity.”
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