Stakeholders across Nigeria’s agribusiness sector have pledged their commitment to strengthening multi-stakeholder partnerships aimed at promoting youth skills development and inclusive growth in the agricultural sector.
This was disclosed in a statement by Mr. Sadiq Rabiu, Special Assistant to the President on Capacity Development (OSAP-CD), following a meeting with a United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) delegation on Thursday in Abuja.
The UNITAR team, which arrived from Geneva, Switzerland, met with key players in Nigeria’s agricultural ecosystem to advance discussions on the Prosperity Futures Initiative (PFI) — a collaborative effort designed to empower young Nigerians and drive innovation in agribusiness.
Rabiu said the initiative seeks to equip Nigerian agripreneurs with the technical, entrepreneurial, and digital skills needed to excel in modern agriculture and value chain management.
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“The initiative aims to develop a pipeline of agripreneurs equipped with the technical, entrepreneurial, and digital skills to thrive in modern agriculture and value chain management,” Rabiu said.
“Through UNITAR’s collaboration, we aim to establish structured pathways linking training to finance, ensuring that youths trained under this framework can access support mechanisms for business expansion.”
He noted that the visit by the UNITAR delegation would help finalise preparations for the official launch of the PFI and the rollout of its pilot phase, which will combine digital learning, expert-led in-person sessions, and community-based entrepreneurship support.
Rabiu added that partnerships such as this would create sustainable opportunities for Nigerian youth while contributing to national prosperity through agribusiness innovation, job creation, and inclusive economic growth.
“The discussions highlighted a shared vision to build a sustainable ecosystem that supports agricultural innovation, enterprise development, and employment creation for young Nigerians,” he said.
Speaking during the meeting, Ms. Mihoko Kumamoto, Director, Division for Prosperity, UNITAR, described Nigeria as a country brimming with potential and reaffirmed UNITAR’s commitment to supporting its agricultural transformation.
“We are proud to support the people of Nigeria — especially youth, women, and persons with disabilities — in unlocking their full potential and forging successful paths in the agricultural sector,” Kumamoto said.
The Prosperity Futures Initiative (PFI) aims to empower young people, women, and persons with disabilities while strengthening local agricultural institutions across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. The programme will focus on promoting digital agribusiness, entrepreneurship, and institutional capacity building, with a strong emphasis on inclusivity and sustainable development.
