United Nations Advocates Youth Empowerment In Agribusiness Contractors’ Debts

Key stakeholders in Nigeria’s agribusiness sector have pledged to collaborate under the Prosperity Futures Initiative to boost youth skills and inclusive growth in agriculture.

The commitment was made during a high-level visit to Nigeria by Ms. Mihoko Kumamoto, director of the Division for Prosperity at the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). Her visit was made in partnership with the Office of the Special Assistant to the President on Capacity Development (OSAP-CD).

Speaking at the event, the Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Capacity Development, Mr Sadiq Rabiu, said the initiative aimed to build a new generation of agripreneurs equipped with technical, entrepreneurial, and digital skills.

According to him, the programme seeks to link training to finance, ensuring young Nigerians can access the support they need to expand their agribusiness ventures.

Rabiu reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to transforming such partnerships into sustainable opportunities for youth employment, innovation, and economic growth through agriculture.

He said, “Through UNITAR’s collaboration, we aim to establish structured pathways linking training to finance, ensuring that youth trained under this framework can access support mechanisms for business expansion.”

In her remarks, Ms. Kumamoto described Nigeria as a “vibrant nation brimming with promise,” noting UNITAR’s readiness to help youths, women, and persons with disabilities unlock their full potential in agriculture.