• Nigeria launched the Youth in Agribusiness Land Trust Fund (YALTF) to improve young people’s access to land and agricultural training.

• The program plans to train more than 6 million Nigerian youthsin modern and climate-smart farming.

• Agriculture contributes 22.7% of Nigeria’s GDP and employs about 60% of the workforce, according to the World Bank.

Nigeria has launched a new initiative aimed at promoting youth entrepreneurship in agriculture by improving access to land and training. The federal government introduced the Youth in Agribusiness Land Trust Fund (YALTF) as part of a broader strategy to strengthen the agricultural sector, which remains a central pillar of the national economy.

The Ministry of Youth Development announced the program in a statement published on March 10. The initiative seeks to mobilize land resources across 42 National Youth Development Centresthroughout the country.

FG Launches Youth Agribusiness Land Initiative ?
The Federal Government, through the @fmydNG, has launched the Youth in Agribusiness Land Trust Fund (YALTF) to unlock land resources in 42 National Youth Development Centres across Nigeria.
The initiative, in partnership with the… pic.twitter.com/UekfVDRg3R

— Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Nigeria (@fmydNG) March 10, 2026

Officials will implement the project in partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). The program aims to train more than 6 million Nigerian youths in modern agricultural practices and climate-smart farming techniques. Training programs will also focus on opportunities across various agricultural value chains in order to support the development of agribusiness ventures.

Ayodele Olawande, Nigeria’s Minister of Youth Development, said the initiative aims to give young people access to land, technical skills and tailored support in order to foster a new generation of agricultural entrepreneurs.

Agriculture accounts for about 22.7% of Nigeria’s gross domestic product, according to the World Bank. The sector also employs nearly 60% of the country’s labor force. However, the industry faces several structural challenges. Climate change continues to disrupt production patterns, while infrastructure gaps limit productivity in many regions. In addition, insecurity in some rural areas complicates farming activities, and many producers face limited access to financing and modern equipment.

In response, Nigerian authorities have launched multiple initiatives aimed at strengthening agricultural value chains, expanding mechanization and supporting strategic crops. Among these initiatives, the Green Imperative Project, a cooperation program between Nigeria and Brazil, seeks to expand agricultural mechanization. The government estimates the first phase of the program at $1.1 billion, and authorities officially launched the operational phase in March 2025.

This article was initially published in French by Charlène N’dimon

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum