The Federal Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with the Leonard and Nkiruka Okorkwo Foundation (LANOF), Heinrich Böll Foundation (HBF), and other stakeholders, on Tuesday unveiled the 2025–2030 Revised National Youth Manifesto in Agriculture.
The government also launched the 2025 Nigerian Youth in Agribusiness Call to Action at the event held in Abuja.
Senator Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, described the initiative as a “youth-owned roadmap for agricultural transformation” in the country. Represented by Mrs. Safina Abdullah, Deputy Director of Planning and Policy Coordination at the ministry, Kyari said the unveiling represented a call to duty.
He explained that the manifesto was a practical operational plan built around eight key priorities: 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.
Kyari stressed that the ministry would ensure the call to action was not left on paper but translated into actionable policies, investments, and opportunities.
According to him, the manifesto is anchored on existing national frameworks, including the 2022–2027 National Agriculture Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP) and the 2025–2030 Revised National Gender Policy in Agriculture.
“The ministry will integrate the Nigerian Youth in Agribusiness Call to Action into the revised National Gender Policy in Agriculture and its Strategic Plan of Action 2025–2030,” he said.
“We are committed to developing a comprehensive National Youth in Agribusiness Strategy in line with the African Union’s African Agribusiness Youth Strategy (AAYS). This strategy will institutionalise the Nigeria Youth in Agribusiness Forum (NYAF) and provide a structured mechanism for implementation nationwide.”
He added that through targeted programmes on mechanisation, access to finance, digital platforms, capacity development, and extension services, government would build a system that empowers young farmers to drive a more resilient, innovative, and inclusive agricultural sector.
Kyari commended LANOF, HBF, and Nigerian youth across the six geopolitical zones for their commitment, innovations, and ideas that shaped the revised manifesto.
“I charge the youth to ensure the manifesto is not left on the shelf. Rise to the challenge. Own this process. Build enterprises, not just farms. Innovate solutions, not just demand opportunities,” he urged.
Mrs. Nkiruka Okorkwo, Co-Founder of LANOF, described the manifesto as both a policy advocacy tool and a youth empowerment mechanism for building a resilient, inclusive, and future-focused food system in Nigeria.
She explained that the manifesto and the NYAF present a bold, youth-led strategy to transform agriculture into a dynamic sector that delivers on food security, employment, and sustainability goals.
“The strength of this manifesto lies in its co-creation by the youth, and for the youth. These strategies require multi-sectoral collaboration, technical support, and long-term investment,” she said.
Sophie von Knebel, Country Director of HBF, commended LANOF and partners for facilitating the process and expressed optimism that the manifesto would help transform Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
Also speaking, Blessing Akhile of the National Gender Steering Committee, ActionAid Nigeria, described the unveiling as heartwarming and reaffirmed ActionAid’s commitment to promoting inclusion and ensuring the manifesto translates into tangible action
