New Land Trust Fund Targets 500,000 Youth-led Agribusinesses

A new national initiative aimed at expanding land access and boosting agricultural entrepreneurship among young Nigerians has been launched, with a target of supporting more than 500,000 youth-led agribusinesses across the country.

The Federal Ministry of Youth Development (FMYD), in partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), unveiled the National Youth in Agribusiness Land Trust Fund (YiALTF) in Abuja on Monday, describing it as a strategic intervention to remove one of the biggest obstacles confronting young agripreneurs access to land.

The initiative, which is supported by First City Monument Bank (FCMB), is expected to create opportunities for enterprise development, improved access to financing, job creation and sustainable economic growth within Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

Speaking at the launch, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, said the programme represents a major step toward increasing youth participation in agriculture and positioning agribusiness as a viable pathway to economic empowerment.

According to him, the government plans to train more than six million young Nigerians in the coming years while supporting at least 500,000 youth-led agribusiness ventures and connecting them to both domestic and international markets.

“Agriculture has the potential to create millions of jobs, improve food production, reduce poverty and accelerate economic growth. However, access to land remains one of the biggest barriers confronting young people today, and this initiative seeks to address that challenge,” Olawande said.

The minister explained that the Youth in Agribusiness Land Trust Fund would provide a structured framework through which young entrepreneurs can gain access to land for productive agricultural activities, while also promoting innovation, entrepreneurship and wealth creation across the agricultural value chain.

Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, described the launch of the fund as evidence of Nigeria’s commitment to empowering young entrepreneurs and strengthening the agricultural sector.

Bagudu said the initiative would help dismantle long-standing barriers to land ownership and access, creating a more conducive environment for youth-led agribusinesses to thrive and contribute meaningfully to national development.

Representing FCMB, the bank’s Divisional Head, Agribusiness and Non-Oil Export, Kudzai Gumunyu, reaffirmed the financial institution’s commitment to initiatives that make agriculture more attractive, profitable and financeable for young people.

He noted that agriculture should be viewed as a modern, technology-driven business with opportunities spanning logistics, processing, mechanisation, commodity trading, digital platforms and innovation.

“The future of Nigerian agriculture depends on how well we structure financing and support systems around the realities of young people and the sector,” Gumunyu said.

He added that while Nigerian youths possess the creativity, energy and technological adaptability needed to transform agriculture, many still face challenges in accessing collateral and financial structures required to secure funding.

Gumunyu highlighted FCMB’s AgTech Aggregator Programme as one of the bank’s efforts to encourage youth-led innovation and develop practical solutions to challenges within the agricultural value chain.

According to him, stronger partnerships among government agencies, financial institutions, development organisations and private sector stakeholders are essential to improving access to finance, technology, technical support and market opportunities for young agripreneurs.

The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, also commended the collaboration between government, development institutions and private sector partners, noting that the initiative would help nurture a new generation of agribusiness entrepreneurs capable of transforming Nigeria’s agricultural landscape.

The launch attracted representatives from development agencies, donor organisations, state governments, financial institutions, youth groups, agribusiness stakeholders and members of the NYSC, all united around the goal of building a more inclusive, productive and prosperous agricultural future for Nigeria.

Stakeholders at the event expressed optimism that the initiative would unlock opportunities for thousands of young Nigerians, strengthen food security and accelerate the growth of youth-driven enterprises across the agricultural value chain.