Government presents Agriculture-focused Youth Action Plan for the years 2025 to 2030

The Federal Government, in collaboration with the Leonard and Nkiruka Okonkwo Foundation (LANOF), Heinrich Boll Foundation (HBF), and other stakeholders, have recently unveiled the 2025 to 2030 revised National Youth Manifesto in Agriculture for Nigeria. This groundbreaking document is a people-driven roadmap aimed at resourcing, recognising, and ensuring the representation of young people in the country's agricultural sector.

Sen. Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, described the manifesto as a youth-owned roadmap for agricultural transformation in the country. Sen. Kyari commended LANOF and HBF for their effort in coming up with the revised manifesto and for facilitating a bold and inclusive youth-driven process. Sophie von Knebel, Country Director of HBF, echoed similar sentiments, expressing optimism that the manifesto would transform the agricultural sector in Nigeria.

Nkiruka Okonkwo, Co-Founder of LANOF, described the manifesto as a policy advocacy tool and a youth empowerment mechanism. The strength of the manifesto, according to Okonkwo, lies in its co-creation by the youth and for the youth. Sophie von Knebel urged the youth to own the agricultural space and work in accordance with the manifesto.

The manifesto outlines practical pathways to unlock opportunities for youth leadership across agricultural value chains. It is anchored on 2022 to 2027 national frameworks such as the National Agriculture Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP), the 2025 to 2030 revised National Gender Policy in Agriculture, among others.

The manifesto covers eight key priorities, including agroecology and climate resilience, access to land and inputs, youth-responsive finance and market access, research and agritech innovation, capacity development, gender and social inclusion, policy advocacy and governance, and mentorship and intergenerational learning.

The ministry is fully committed to working with LANOF and partners to develop a comprehensive National Youth in Agribusiness Strategy in line with the African Union's African Agribusiness Youth Strategy (AAYS). The strategy will institutionalise the Nigeria Youth in Agribusiness Forum (NYAF) and provide a structured mechanism for implementing the manifesto and the call to action nationwide.

The unveiling of the manifesto also included the 2025 Nigerian Youth in Agribusiness Call to Action. Blessing Akhile of the National Gender Steering Committee, ActionAid Nigeria, described the unveiling as heartwarming and stated that ActionAid remains committed to promoting inclusion in agriculture and ensuring the manifesto transforms into action in Nigeria.

The ministry is fully committed to integrating the Nigerian Youth in Agribusiness Call to Action into the revised National Gender Policy in Agriculture and its Strategic Plan of Action 2025 to 2030. This commitment underscores the government's dedication to empowering young farmers in the country through targeted programmes on mechanisation, access to finance, digital platforms, capacity development, and extension services.

In conclusion, the unveiling of the revised National Youth Manifesto in Agriculture for Nigeria marks a significant step towards empowering young farmers and ensuring their representation in the agricultural sector. The manifesto serves as a practical operational plan for achieving this goal, with the support and endorsement of various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, LANOF, HBF, and others.

Government presents Agriculture-focused Youth Action Plan for the years 2025 to 2030