The Nigerian government has unveiled an ambitious 10-year Strategic Action Plan (2026–2035) aimed at revolutionizing the agricultural sector through youth-led innovation and modern practices. The move is part of Nigeria’s broader commitment to the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) Kampala Declaration (2026–2036), which seeks to improve food and nutrition security across the continent.
Vice President Kashim Shettima announced the initiative during the United Nations Food Systems Summit Stocktake (UNFSS+4) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Addressing African leaders and agri-food entrepreneurs, Shettima underscored the critical role of young people in reshaping food systems and leading agricultural innovation across the continent.
“A nation that is prepared for the future is not known by the promises it makes, but by the place it gives to its youth in shaping those promises,” Shettima said, celebrating African youth as drivers of a new era in food systems.
The Strategic Action Plan will focus on agricultural innovation, food sustainability, and economic diversification. Government officials emphasized the importance of attracting investment in agritech, rural agriculture, and value-driven food systems aligned with national economic and food security goals.
As part of this transformation, Shettima announced that Nigeria has committed $538.05 million to the first phase of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme. The initiative, supported by the African Development Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the Islamic Development Bank, and other global partners, aims to boost agricultural productivity and agro-industrialization.
The SAPZ programme is projected to draw $1 billion in total investments by 2027, cut post-harvest losses by up to 80 percent, and has already generated more than 785,000 jobs across targeted rural regions.
According to the Vice President, these developments represent a coordinated strategy to enhance rural livelihoods and ensure long-term national food security. He described African youths as the continent’s most valuable resource and called on stakeholders to strengthen support for their participation in agricultural transformation.
Reaffirming the government’s urgency on the matter, Shettima noted that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a State of Emergency on Food Security. So far, the Federal Government has reactivated more than 500,000 hectares of arable land, expanded access to quality seeds and extension services, and begun the strategic deployment of food reserves.
The 10-year strategy reflects Nigeria’s recognition that the path to economic resilience, food stability, and inclusive development must be led by empowered youth equipped with the tools to transform agriculture for the 21st century.
