Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth-driven agriculture, describing farming as a profitable business capable of creating jobs, strengthening food security and driving inclusive economic growth across the state.
The governor made the remarks during the presentation of cheques totalling ₦1 billion to beneficiaries of the state’s Bring Back the Youth in Agriculture programme for the 2025 harvest season. The event, held at the Osuntokun Pavilion, Government House, Ado-Ekiti, saw about 4,657 young farmers receive between ₦500,000 and ₦1.5 million each as proceeds from the programme’s profits.
Represented by the Chief of Staff, Niyi Adebayo, the governor said the initiative aligns with the administration’s shared prosperity agenda, noting that increased youth participation in agriculture has translated into job creation, poverty reduction and improved food sufficiency in Ekiti. He described the cheque presentation as a clear signal that agriculture is no longer a vocation of last resort but a viable business opportunity for young people.
According to the governor, the programme demonstrates that with the right mix of support, training, and access to resources, young Nigerians can build successful agribusinesses and become employers of labour. He urged beneficiaries to reinvest their earnings into expanding their operations, adopting modern technologies, and strengthening sustainable agribusiness models, stressing that the current achievements should serve as a foundation for even greater growth.
He recalled that when the programme was launched in 2024, the aim was to deliberately reposition agriculture as a profitable venture for youths. He noted that participation grew from 911 beneficiaries in 2024 to nearly 5,000 in 2025, representing more than 500 percent growth, while total profits rose from ₦145 million to ₦1 billion within the same period. He added that recent National Bureau of Statistics data placing Ekiti among states with the lowest month-on-month food inflation reflects the programme’s impact on local food production.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security attributed the programme’s performance to sustained government investment, including the establishment of multiple farm hubs, free land clearing across thousands of hectares and the provision of security, accommodation, transportation and solar-powered facilities within farm clusters. These interventions, he said, have reduced entry barriers for young agripreneurs and improved productivity.
Goodwill messages from the Ekiti Development and Investment Promotion Agency and the Ministry of Youth Development highlighted the programme’s contribution to internally generated revenue and its role in boosting private-sector confidence in the state’s agricultural economy. Beneficiaries, speaking at the event, commended the government for providing modern tools, infrastructure and an enabling environment that allowed their farming enterprises to grow and remain profitable.
