Nigeria’s Ministry of Youth Development, in partnership with the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) have launched the National Youth in Agribusiness Land Trust Fund, an initiative aimed at improving access to land for young Nigerians engaged in agribusiness.
Supported by FCMB, the programme seeks to address land access constraints facing young agripreneurs while creating opportunities for financing, enterprise development and job creation.
According to the statement by FCMB on Thursday, the initiative was unveiled in Abuja during a gathering of government officials, development partners, financial institutions, youth organisations and stakeholders in the agricultural sector.
It added that the Youth in Agribusiness Land Trust Fund provides a framework that enables young people to access land for agricultural activities while promoting entrepreneurship and value-chain development.
Speaking at the launch, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, said that the initiative would support efforts to increase youth participation in agriculture and expand agribusiness opportunities.
“We want to train more than 6 million Nigerian youths in the coming years. We want to support at least 500,000 youth-led agribusinesses and connect young Nigerians to local 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,” he said.
Earlier, Nigeria’s Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, said that the initiative reflected efforts to strengthen youth participation in agriculture and reduce barriers to land access.
He said that the programme would help create conditions for youth-led agribusinesses to expand.
Representing FCMB at the event, the Divisional Head, Agribusiness and Non-Oil Export, Kudzai Gumunyu, said that the bank remained committed to supporting initiatives aimed at making agriculture more accessible and commercially viable for young people.
“The future of Nigerian agriculture depends on how well we structure financing and support systems around the realities of young people and the sector. Agriculture must be presented as a modern, technology-driven business offering opportunities in logistics, processing, commodity trading, mechanisation, digital platforms, and innovation,” he said.
Gumunyu noted that many young Nigerians face challenges accessing finance because they lack the collateral and financial structures required by lenders.
He highlighted FCMB’s AgTech Aggregator Programme, which supports young innovators developing solutions to challenges across the agricultural value chain.
“Building the right ecosystem is critical. The future of Nigerian agriculture is young, climate-smart, market-driven, and innovation-enabled. To unlock its full potential, we must strengthen partnerships that improve access to finance, technical support, technology, and market opportunities,” he added.
GIK/APA