The Federal Government has pledged to provide financial support to South-South youths in agriculture as part of efforts to strengthen their access to credit and investment for agribusiness projects.
This commitment was announced during the inauguration of the South-South Youth in Agriculture, Akwa Ibom State Chapter, held in Uyo on Friday. Speaking at the event, the South-South Coordinator of the Nigerian Agribusiness and Agro-Industry Development Initiative (NAADI) said the inauguration marked a turning point in youth participation in agriculture across the region. He observed that several associations often fail to secure meaningful funding because they lack structure and proper governance frameworks.
To address this, NAADI, in partnership with the Federation of Agricultural Communities of Nigeria, will support the new body in developing covenants and operational standards that meet global best practices. “If you don’t have structure and good covenants, most organisations will not fund you. But once these structures are in place, it becomes easier for organisations and agencies to support and invest in you. We are committed to helping this body establish these standards,” he explained.
He added that NAADI would also collaborate with relevant expos and institutions to provide training for executives of the association across all local government areas of the state. The training will focus on cooperative management, financial accountability, and the development of templates aligned with United Nations Industrial Development Organisation standards. “With these minimum standards, accessing funding from government agencies, development partners, and international organisations will no longer be difficult,” he stressed.
In a goodwill message, the Head of Development Finance at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Uyo branch, reaffirmed the apex bank’s commitment to supporting youth-led agric projects. He highlighted the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme as a key intervention window through which farmers can access loans of up to N1 million from Microfinance Banks. He explained that CBN guarantees 75 per cent of the loan value in case of default, thereby reducing lending risks for banks. He noted that the facility, which can run for one year, allows beneficiaries who meet repayment obligations to reapply, with CBN covering 40 per cent of the interest cost.
Also addressing the gathering, the State Commissioner for Agriculture commended the resilience of the Youth in Agriculture initiative, recalling that Akwa Ibom youths have excelled nationally with record cassava yields and innovative farming practices. She assured that the ministry would continue to supply improved seedlings and technical support in line with the state government’s ARISE Agenda on food security. She, however, urged the youth leadership to always submit requests in advance to ensure timely delivery of inputs.
The event climaxed with the formal inauguration of the Akwa Ibom State chapter executives, led by Sylvester Sunday, who pledged to mobilise more young people across the state to embrace agriculture as a sustainable pathway to prosperity.
Stakeholders at the event described the launch as a new era of institutional backing for South-South youths in agriculture, raising hopes for improved access to credit, capacity building, and higher productivity.
Agriculture remains a critical driver of Nigeria’s economy, employing more than 35 per cent of the labour force while contributing significantly to food security and non-oil revenue. Yet, despite their potential, youths in the South-South have long struggled with barriers such as poor access to credit, modern training, and structured support needed to fully explore opportunities in agribusiness.
NAADI was established to bridge this gap by creating institutional frameworks that enhance youth participation in agriculture. Working with the Federation of Agricultural Communities of Nigeria, the initiative aims to provide governance structures, covenants, and operational standards that align with international best practices, thereby positioning youth agricultural associations to attract funding from government agencies, development partners, and international investors.
