The Kwara State Government, in partnership with Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, has commenced maize production on a 3.5-hectare farmland under an initiative aimed at promoting youth empowerment, strengthening food security and supporting livestock development.
The project is being implemented through the Kwara Livestock Entrepreneurship Scheme, a state government initiative designed to reposition the livestock sector through structured youth engagement, innovation and sustainable enterprise development.
The scheme is also expected to address youth unemployment, strengthen food system resilience and promote climate adaptation through increased participation in agriculture and livestock enterprises.
The planting exercise, which has commenced at the Faculty of Agriculture of Al-Hikmah University, marks the first phase of the programme. The maize crop is intended primarily for the production of livestock feed.
Speaking on the initiative, the Vice-Chancellor of Al-Hikmah University, Professor Lateef Oladimeji, said the partnership would expand the institution’s agricultural activities while contributing to food production and food security in Kwara State.
Oladimeji said the project would also provide opportunities to promote agricultural innovation and enhance the university’s contribution to addressing food production challenges.
The Director of the Abdulraheem Oladimeji Centre for Entrepreneurship and Vocational Studies (AOCEVS), Dr Waheed Olanrewaju Salawdeen, said the project would provide students with practical agricultural experience and learning opportunities.
He said the initiative was in line with the university’s commitment to entrepreneurship, vocational training and self-reliance, adding that practical exposure would help equip students with skills for enterprise development.
The state government is implementing the scheme through the Ministries of Livestock Development and Agriculture in collaboration with Al-Hikmah University, through the Abdulraheem Oladimeji Centre for Entrepreneurship and Vocational Studies and the Faculty of Agriculture, Igbaja campus.
To strengthen the technical delivery of the programme, AdunGreen Foundation has also been engaged as the technical partner.
The organisers said the tripartite partnership between the state government, the university and the technical partner was designed to promote sustainable youth empowerment and livestock enterprise development.
The maize planting constitutes the first phase of the scheme, with the crop intended primarily for the production of livestock feed.
Representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture witnessed the flag-off exercise, alongside the Vice-Chancellor and management team of Al-Hikmah University.
The initiative is expected to strengthen the agricultural value chain by linking crop production with livestock development, while providing young people with practical opportunities to participate in agriculture and build sustainable enterprises.
