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The Federal Ministry of Youth Development (FMYD), in partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), has launched the National Youth in Agribusiness Land Trust Fund (YiALTF), a major initiative designed to improve access to farmland and create opportunities for more than 500,000 young Nigerians seeking to build sustainable agribusiness enterprises.
The programme, which is supported by fcmb.com, was unveiled in Abuja on Monday during a high-level gathering of government officials, development partners, financial institutions, youth organisations and stakeholders across Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.
The initiative seeks to address one of the biggest challenges facing young farmers and agribusiness entrepreneurs—limited access to land. Beyond land acquisition, the fund is expected to facilitate access to financing, enterprise development support, job creation opportunities and long-term economic growth.
Speaking at the launch, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, described the fund as a strategic intervention aimed at transforming youth participation in agriculture and positioning agribusiness as a key driver of economic empowerment.
According to him, the government plans to train more than six million Nigerian youths in the coming years while supporting at least 500,000 youth-led agribusinesses and connecting them to both domestic and international markets.
He noted that agriculture remains one of the most promising sectors for creating jobs, boosting food production, reducing poverty and stimulating economic growth, but stressed that access to land has remained a major obstacle for many young people seeking to venture into the sector.
Also speaking, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, said the launch of the Youth in Agribusiness Land Trust Fund demonstrates the country’s commitment to empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs and strengthening the agricultural sector.
Bagudu said the initiative would help dismantle longstanding barriers to land ownership and access, creating a more enabling environment for youth-led agribusinesses to thrive and contribute meaningfully to national development.
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Representing FCMB at the event, the bank’s Divisional Head, Agribusiness and Non-Oil Export, Kudzai Gumunyu, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to supporting programmes that make agriculture more attractive, profitable and financeable for young Nigerians.
He stressed the need to reposition agriculture as a modern, technology-driven business capable of generating opportunities in logistics, processing, commodity trading, mechanisation, digital platforms and innovation.
According to him, while young Nigerians possess the creativity, energy and technological adaptability needed to transform the agricultural sector, many continue to face challenges in accessing finance due to inadequate collateral and weak financial structures.
Gumunyu highlighted FCMB’s AgTech Aggregator Programme as one of the bank’s interventions aimed at supporting youth-focused innovation and encouraging the development of practical solutions to challenges within the agricultural value chain.
He added that stronger partnerships among government agencies, financial institutions, development organisations and private sector players would be critical to improving access to finance, technology, technical support and market opportunities for young agripreneurs.
The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, commended the collaboration between government, development institutions and private sector partners, saying the initiative would help nurture a new generation of agripreneurs capable of driving agricultural transformation across the country.
The Federal Ministry of Youth Development and IITA also applauded FCMB and other partners for their contributions towards advancing youth empowerment and agricultural development.
Stakeholders at the event, including representatives of donor agencies, state governments, financial institutions, youth networks and agribusiness organisations, expressed optimism that the fund would expand opportunities for young Nigerians, boost food production and support the growth of a more inclusive and prosperous agricultural economy.
