National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members could soon gain access to new training, mentorship, and agribusiness opportunities following the launch of the Youth in Agribusiness Land Trust Fund (YiALTF), a youth-focused initiative introduced by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development.
The programme is expected to create pathways for young Nigerians to participate more actively in agricultural production and agribusiness development, while also providing practical support that could help them build sustainable careers within the sector.
Speaking during the launch of the YiALTF in Abuja, the Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, reaffirmed the scheme’s commitment to agricultural development and youth empowerment, describing the initiative as a significant step toward preparing young Nigerians for opportunities across the agricultural value chain.
According to Nafiu, agriculture remains one of the most important sectors for Nigeria’s economic growth and food security, making youth participation critical to the country’s long-term development goals.
He said the NYSC has continued to promote entrepreneurship and self-reliance through its Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) Programme, which places considerable emphasis on agro-allied businesses and related ventures.
The DG explained that the launch of the Youth in Agribusiness Land Trust Fund aligns with the objectives of the SAED programme by creating more opportunities for Corps Members to acquire practical experience and industry exposure.
He noted that many young Nigerians possess the energy, creativity, and innovation needed to transform agriculture but often lack access to the resources, networks, and support systems required to succeed.
Through the new initiative, Corps Members are expected to receive mentorship, exposure to agricultural value chains, and access to opportunities that could help them establish viable agribusiness ventures after completing their national service year.
“This initiative will provide our Corps Members with practical experience, mentorship, and access to opportunities within the agricultural value chain. It will also help nurture a new generation of agripreneurs who are ready to transform Nigeria’s agricultural landscape,” Nafiu said.
The NYSC DG described the launch of the YiALTF as evidence of the Federal Government’s commitment to empowering young people and creating sustainable opportunities in agriculture.
He added that beyond creating jobs, the initiative has the potential to strengthen food production, improve agricultural productivity, and encourage more young Nigerians to see agribusiness as a viable career and business pathway.
For years, agriculture has remained one of the sectors identified as having the capacity to absorb a large number of young Nigerians. However, participation among youths has often been limited by challenges such as access to land, financing, technical knowledge, mentorship, and market opportunities.
Programmes such as the YiALTF are expected to address some of these barriers by connecting young people with resources and support structures that can help them participate effectively in agricultural production and agribusiness development.
Nafiu also highlighted the role of partnerships in driving the success of youth-focused agricultural programmes.
He commended the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), and other development partners involved in the initiative for their efforts toward promoting youth empowerment and agricultural transformation.
According to him, sustained collaboration between government institutions, development organisations, and the private sector will be necessary to ensure that more young Nigerians can benefit from opportunities within the agricultural ecosystem.
The NYSC boss further called for public support and stakeholder participation in initiatives designed to unlock the potential of Nigerian youths.
He said the creativity, innovation, and resilience demonstrated by young Nigerians remain valuable assets that can contribute significantly to national development when properly harnessed.
Nafiu also pledged the full support of the NYSC toward the successful implementation of the Youth in Agribusiness Land Trust Fund.
The programme is expected to complement existing efforts by the NYSC to equip Corps Members with practical skills that can improve their employability and entrepreneurial capacity after service.
For many Corps Members, participation in agriculture-related training programmes during service has become an alternative pathway to traditional white-collar employment, particularly as Nigeria continues to experience high youth unemployment and underemployment rates.
The new agribusiness initiative could therefore provide an additional platform for young graduates to explore opportunities in crop production, livestock farming, agricultural processing, agritech, value addition, distribution, and other areas within the agricultural value chain.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, said the initiative was designed to create employment opportunities for young Nigerians across different segments of the agricultural sector.
He disclosed that the ministry and its partners remain committed to expanding economic opportunities for youths nationwide through targeted programmes and strategic collaborations.
According to Olawande, the Agribusiness Land Trust Fund is a national initiative aimed at bringing young Nigerians together to actively participate in agriculture and agribusiness development.
He explained that the success of the programme would require contributions from multiple stakeholders, including state governments, financial institutions, development partners, and private sector organisations.
“This is a call to action, a call to partnership, and a call to invest in Nigerian youths. I invite all stakeholders to support this vision,” the minister said.
The launch event also featured the recognition of outstanding young agripreneurs whose work has contributed to agricultural innovation and development.
The recognition was intended to showcase the impact that young entrepreneurs are already making within Nigeria’s agricultural sector and to inspire more youths to explore opportunities in agribusiness.
With the NYSC committing its support to the initiative and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development positioning it as a national youth empowerment programme, the Youth in Agribusiness Land Trust Fund could become an important platform for Corps Members seeking practical training, mentorship, and long-term opportunities in agriculture.
As implementation begins, attention will likely focus on how many young Nigerians can be integrated into agricultural value chains and how effectively the programme can help develop a new generation of agripreneurs capable of contributing to food security, job creation, and agricultural transformation in Nigeria.
