Nigeria’s Federal Government has restated its commitment to transforming agriculture into a tech-driven, youth-led sector that supports national food security and inclusive economic growth.
At a recent High-Level Policy Dialogue on Youth and Women in Agribusiness held in Abuja, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security said the new National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy was specifically developed to modernise the sector and attract more young entrepreneurs. The government’s goal, he noted, is to promote “smarter, younger, and more inclusive agriculture” by prioritising digital technologies, mechanisation, and increased access to improved agricultural inputs.
To support this transformation, the government is backing several youth-focused initiatives, including the $618 million iDICE initiative and the $100 million Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank Fund (YEIB-Fund). Both programmes are designed to train and empower more than 175,000 young people while funding youth- and women-led MSMEs in agribusiness.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) also highlighted its ongoing investments in projects like the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs) and the Ekiti Knowledge Zone, which are intended to create rural jobs and position Nigeria as a regional hub for agricultural innovation and tech development.
At the event, stakeholders stressed the need for stronger financing systems and coordinated policy reforms that prioritise youth- and women-led enterprises. They argued that these businesses are key to unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s agriculture sector and ensuring long-term food security.
The event was held under the theme “Bridging the Gap – Access to Finance & Empowering Youth and Women for Agribusiness Success.”
