The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Youth Development to launch the Youth in Agribusiness Land Trust Fund (YALTF), a major initiative aimed at expanding opportunities for young Nigerians in agriculture.
The programme, implemented through the IITA Youth Agripreneurs Programme, will transform 42 Federal Youth Development Centres across the country into integrated agribusiness hubs designed to support youth participation in agriculture.
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According to the partners, the hubs will provide young people with access to land, specialized training, business incubation services, and market linkages to help them build sustainable agribusiness enterprises.
As the technical and implementing partner, IITA—working under the CGIAR global agricultural research network—will provide key support in several areas. These include agribusiness training and capacity development, enterprise incubation for youth-led businesses, promotion of climate-smart agriculture, digital innovation, and facilitation of market and investment opportunities.
The initiative is expected to deliver large-scale impact, with plans to train six million young Nigerians in agribusiness skills and incubate about 500,000 youth-led agribusiness enterprises across the country.
Stakeholders say the collaboration represents a significant step toward strengthening Nigeria’s food systems while creating employment opportunities for young people.
By empowering youth with the resources, skills, and networks needed to succeed in agriculture, the programme aims to position young Nigerians as key drivers of agricultural transformation, innovation, and economic growth in the country.
The partners also noted that the initiative aligns with national priorities to boost food security and expand opportunities within the agricultural value chain.
