The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to food security and job creation by empowering young Nigerians through agribusiness training and funding support.
On Wednesday, the Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority (O-ORBDA) graduated 37 participants of its 2024/2025 Graduate Youth Empowerment Programme (GYEP) at its headquarters in Abeokuta.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of O-ORBDA, Dr. Adedeji Ashiru, said the initiative reflects President Bola Tinubu’s determination to encourage youth participation in agribusiness as a way to tackle unemployment and strengthen food production.
Dr. Ashiru disclosed that since its launch in 2016, the program has trained more than 200 agriculturally skilled graduates, equipping them with hands-on experience in arable crop farming, poultry management, and fisheries.
The latest batch, who began their six-month training in February, received both technical skills and mentorship designed to prepare them for wealth creation, job generation, and national food security efforts.
₦500,000 Grant for Each Graduate
In line with the GYEP operational guidelines, Ashiru announced that each graduate would receive ₦500,000 as startup capital, amounting to a total investment of ₦18.5 million.
“The ₦500,000 you are receiving today is not merely a grant — it is an investment in Nigeria’s future, a seed that must be planted wisely to yield an abundant harvest,” Ashiru told the graduates.
“You are not merely graduates; you are agents of change in Nigeria’s agricultural transformation, job creators for the next generation, and food security champions for our nation.”
Ashiru praised President Tinubu and the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, for sustaining the program and backing food production efforts nationwide.
In his remarks, Mr. Sulaiman Akeem, Executive Director of Agricultural and Commercial Services at O-ORBDA, said the participants gained practical training in poultry, fisheries, and crop production, giving them the skills needed to contribute to the agricultural value chain.
Beneficiary Olalekan Daniel applauded the initiative, noting that the training had “sufficiently empowered them to join in the vanguard of boosting food production in the country.”
The GYEP, one of the Federal Government’s flagship programs, is part of Tinubu’s broader agenda to make agriculture attractive to young people. Beyond training, the startup capital grants ensure graduates can launch agribusinesses immediately, contributing to local food systems, employment generation, and national development.
Since inception, many alumni have gone on to establish thriving agricultural ventures, reinforcing the government’s vision of building a new generation of agripreneurs driving food security and economic growth.
