Youth Minister Olawande Ayodele Announces Landmark Partnership with IITA, Launches Youth in Agribusiness Land Trust Fund

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Youth Minister Olawande Ayodele Announces Landmark Partnership with IITA, Launches Youth in Agribusiness Land Trust Fund






In a significant development for Nigeria’s agricultural sector, the Honourable Minister for Youth Development, Olawande Ayodele, has announced the formalization of a strategic partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).




This follows his earlier visit to the IITA headquarters in Ibadan on February 5, 2026, where discussions on collaboration opportunities were held.




Today, the Ministry of Youth Development and IITA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and officially launched the Youth in Agribusiness Land Trust Fund.




This initiative marks a pivotal step in the government’s efforts to empower young Nigerians through agriculture, aligning with the broader _“One Youth, Two Skills”_ initiative.




Under this partnership, the Ministry will repurpose its network of 42 National Youth Development Centres into Agriculture Hubs.




These hubs will serve as integrated spaces for training, production, innovation, and market access, providing young Nigerians with clear pathways from skill acquisition to sustainable agribusiness ventures.


A key highlight of the programme is the Youth in Agribusiness Land Trust Fund, designed to tackle one of the biggest barriers facing young farmers—access to land.


Through this fund and the collaboration with IITA, beneficiaries will gain modern agricultural knowledge, explore value-chain opportunities, and adopt climate-smart practices to build competitive agribusinesses.


Honourable Olawande Ayodele urged young Nigerians to seize this opportunity, whether they are already enrolled in youth agriculture initiatives or newly interested in the sector.


“The future of Nigerian agriculture depends on innovation, enterprise, and the energy of our youth,” he stated.


This programme provides the skills, access, and support needed to succeed.


I encourage all young people to step forward, leverage these platforms, and contribute to Nigeria’s food security and economic prosperity.


The initiative has been widely welcomed as a transformative step towards youth empowerment and agricultural development, reinforcing the government’s commitment to Renewed Hope in the sector.


#YouthInAgriculture | #RenewedHope | #YouthDevelopment | #FoodSecurity


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