The Federal Government, through the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has partnered with the Leventis Foundation Nigeria to provide N2 million in grants for outstanding young agribusiness owners at the forthcoming Agricultural Youth Summit.
Speaking ahead of the 2025 summit scheduled for November 6 in Abuja, the Executive Director of the Leventis Foundation, Hope Usieta, said the initiative aims to promote youth-led agricultural innovation and entrepreneurship.
He explained that the programme would reward agribusiness owners who present the most viable ideas and pitches during the summit. According to him, it represents a strategic investment in building the next generation of agripreneurs who can drive job creation, boost productivity, and contribute to national food security.
“This summit is designed to equip participants with practical skills, business insights, and access to innovative agri-finance tools to help them start or scale their agribusinesses,” Usieta said.
The theme for this year’s event, “Building Youth and Agripreneurs’ Resilience for Agribusiness through Targeted Upskilling and Innovative Agri-Finance,” reflects the need to strengthen young farmers’ capacity to withstand economic and climate challenges while promoting creativity and growth.
Usieta noted that the global agricultural landscape is rapidly evolving due to social, economic, and environmental changes, adding that Nigerian youth remain the nation’s greatest asset in achieving agricultural transformation.
The summit is expected to feature workshops, panel discussions, stakeholder presentations, and exhibitions of youth-led agribusinesses, offering participants a practical learning and networking experience.
He also called for stronger collaboration between public and private sector stakeholders, donor agencies, and agribusiness investors to expand the impact of the initiative, noting that sustainable agricultural development depends on such partnerships.
The partnership between the NYSC and Leventis Foundation underscores the government’s renewed commitment to empowering young Nigerians in agribusiness through skill-building, financial access, and innovation-driven opportunities
