Youth Minister pushes partnership with IITA to establish agriculture hubs
The Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, has reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to positioning young Nigerians at the centre of agricultural transformation, as he visited the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, to advance discussions on expanding the Youth in Agriculture Programme.
Speaking during the visit, Olawande said the ministry is working to designate selected National Youth Development Centres as Agriculture Hubs, which will serve as integrated spaces for agricultural training, production, innovation, and market access. He noted that the initiative aligns with the government’s “One Youth, Two Skills” policy aimed at equipping young people with multiple, market-relevant competencies.
According to the minister, agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s most strategic sectors for economic diversification, food security, and wealth creation, but its full potential can only be realised when youths are empowered as active drivers of growth rather than passive beneficiaries.
“Our goal is to equip young Nigerians with modern agricultural skills, digital tools, climate-smart practices, and agribusiness opportunities that will enable them to compete locally, regionally, and globally,” Olawande said.
He explained that the collaboration with IITA will leverage the institute’s research and technical expertise to strengthen youth-led agricultural enterprises and support innovation across the agricultural value chain.
Olawande stressed that sustainable agricultural development requires strong partnerships between government, research institutions, and the private sector, adding that such collaborations are critical to building a resilient and future-ready agricultural ecosystem.
The minister expressed confidence that the proposed Agriculture Hubs would play a key role in reducing youth unemployment, stimulating entrepreneurship, and securing Nigeria’s food future by nurturing a new generation of agripreneurs.
