Florence Adidi, Abuja
Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has said that young entrepreneurs are key to accelerating growth in the agricultural sector by driving innovation, creating economic opportunities, and fostering productivity and inclusivity.
Speaking at the World Food Forum (WFF) Nigeria Chapter Side Event, themed “Bridging Policy and Innovation: Youth at the Forefront of Agri-Food Transformation,” held in Rome, Italy, Kyari emphasised that transforming a nation’s food system requires aligning national policies with innovation while empowering youth as co-architects of Nigeria’s agricultural future.
He noted that, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, agriculture has been placed at the centre of Nigeria’s national development agenda.
“Food security is more than an economic priority; it is the foundation of national sovereignty and stability,” the Minister said.
Kyari added that through the Renewed Hope vision, the President is driving bold efforts to reinforce confidence in Nigeria’s food systems, strengthen production, and empower young people who will define the future of the agricultural economy.
“We are strengthening the link between policy and practice, ensuring that strategies are inclusive, data-driven, and shaped by those who live and work within our food systems — especially the youth driving innovation,” he stated.
The Minister highlighted that the administration is shifting from a top-down approach to one of co-creation, where collaboration replaces prescription and young voices help shape the policies defining Nigeria’s shared present and collective future.
He pointed to the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP) as the strategic backbone of a tech-enabled, youth-driven, and commercially viable agricultural ecosystem.
“To sustain this wave of innovation, we must ensure that young agripreneurs have access to the resources needed to scale their ideas. Financing innovation and enterprise remains the catalyst for agricultural transformation. No matter how brilliant our ideas or technologies, without accessible and affordable finance, they cannot grow into impact,” Kyari said.
He outlined key government initiatives driving Nigeria’s agricultural transformation, including the operationalisation of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) and the ₦1.5 trillion recapitalisation of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) — one of the largest agricultural finance commitments in the country’s history.
“These measures will expand access to affordable finance for youth and women-led agribusinesses,” he added.
Kyari also praised the contributions of young Nigerian innovators such as Samson Ogbole, Femi Adekoya, Atinuke Lebile, and Azeez Salawu for their pioneering work in soilless farming, drone technology, biofortified crops, and ecosystem coordination.
He commended Abdulsalam Umar of Matura Agro for leading Nigeria’s first large-scale cultivation of alfalfa grass for export.
The Minister disclosed that the Nigerian government has procured 2,000 tractors and over 9,000 agricultural implements — the largest mechanisation drive in Nigeria’s history — to boost productivity and create decent employment opportunities for youth in agribusiness.
“This bold intervention will expand access to modern machinery, enhance productivity, and create new opportunities for youth in machinery operation, maintenance, and agribusiness services. It is part of our deliberate effort to make agriculture a field of innovation, dignity, and decent work for the next generation,” Kyari said.
He lauded the establishment of the World Food Forum (WFF) Nigeria Chapter, describing it as “a bridge between local innovation and global priorities.”
According to him, the platform will unite youth-led organisations, private sector players, research institutions, and government under a shared mission to build resilient food systems.
“This shared observance reminds us that the pursuit of food security is a universal mission — one that binds every nation, every farmer, and every young innovator. It is a day to reaffirm our collective resolve to build food systems that nourish both people and the planet,” he said.
Kyari appealed to development partners to continue supporting Nigeria’s agricultural transformation: “Stay with us in de-risking investments, upgrading enterprises, and providing blended finance to expand youth-led agribusiness opportunities.”
He concluded with a call to action: “Let us build a food-secure, youth-powered, and innovation-driven Nigeria — where every young person with a dream finds in agriculture not a struggle, but a pathway to prosperity and national pride.”