The Nigerian government has launched the Youth in Agribusiness Land Trust Fund (YiALTF), a large-scale initiative aimed at expanding youth participation in agriculture while addressing unemployment and food security challenges across the country.
The program, unveiled in Abuja by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development in partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and financial institutions, is designed to provide young Nigerians with access to land, training, financing, technology, and markets.
The initiative is part of broader efforts under the government’s economic reform and agricultural development agenda, which seeks to reposition agriculture as a major driver of inclusive growth. Officials emphasized that land access remains one of the biggest barriers preventing young people from entering the sector, alongside insecurity and land-use conflicts.
The government plans to reach more than 6 million young Nigerians through training and support programs, while also enabling at least 500,000 youth-led agribusinesses over the next three years. The program is expected to integrate mentorship, financial support, and technical assistance to improve long-term business sustainability.
According to project planners at IITA, the initiative also aims to unlock access to up to 22 million hectares of land over a three-year period. The approach includes structured land access systems intended to reduce fragmentation, encourage shared agricultural infrastructure, and improve productivity among young entrepreneurs.
Officials noted that agriculture is increasingly being viewed as a full value-chain opportunity, extending beyond farming into processing, packaging, logistics, marketing, and exports. This broader framing is intended to attract younger participants who may otherwise be excluded from traditional farming models.
Supporters of the program argue that Africa’s aging farming population and high youth unemployment make such interventions urgent, with emphasis placed on turning land access into productive enterprise creation rather than simple land allocation.
The initiative is expected to combine public-sector coordination with private-sector participation, aiming to create a structured ecosystem where young agripreneurs can scale sustainable businesses while contributing to national food production goals.
Overall, the Youth in Agribusiness Land Trust Fund represents one of Nigeria’s most ambitious youth-focused agricultural programs, linking land reform, employment creation, and food security objectives under a unified national framework.
