The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to launch a youth farmers enrollment portal aimed at creating direct jobs for Nigerian youth across the agricultural value chain.
This was revealed during a meeting between the Minister for Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, and a delegation from the Nigerian Youth Economic Engagement and De-Radicalisation Programme (NIYEEDEP) on Monday.
The NIYEEDEP team, led by National Coordinator Comrade Kennedy Iyere, briefed the Minister on the initiative’s progress and outlined plans for the portal’s unveiling, scheduled for January 17, 2025, in Abuja. The portal will allow young Nigerians to apply for agricultural grants and support, empowering them to participate in agriculture, agro-allied industries, and other key sectors like technology, the creative economy, and sports.
Comrade Iyere emphasized the program’s goal of addressing economic challenges by transforming youth from job seekers into entrepreneurs. The delegation also included representatives from the American Association of Grant Writers, Mr. Marc Paley and Ms. Staci Smith, and African representative for Bayern Munich Football Club, Mr. Victor Obinna Edeh.
Minister Olawande commended the NIYEEDEP team for their efforts and urged them to ensure tangible outcomes ahead of the portal launch. He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to youth empowerment through capacity building, skills training, and job creation.
The unveiling ceremony is expected to attract stakeholders, including government officials, industry leaders, NGOs, and development partners, to further amplify the program’s impact.
Agriculture remains the largest employer in Nigeria, engaging over 25 million individuals or 30.1% of the total workforce, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Despite growth in other sectors, agriculture continues to serve as the backbone of the Nigerian economy, surpassing wholesale and retail trade, which employs 23.1 million people.
This new initiative seeks to harness the sector’s potential to create sustainable livelihoods for Nigerian youth while addressing unemployment challenges nationwide.
