By Atoyebi Nike
The Nigerian government has launched a 10-year Strategic Action Plan (2026-2035) to revamp the country’s agricultural sector, with a strong focus on youth innovation and private sector collaboration.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, speaking at the UN Food Systems Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, described the initiative as part of Nigeria’s implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) Kampala Declaration. The plan aims to improve food and nutrition security across Africa.
“Our future depends on how we empower our youth,” Shettima said, urging investment in young agri-entrepreneurs to drive innovation and resilience in food systems.
To support this goal, the Nigerian government has recapitalised the Bank of Agriculture with ₦1.5 trillion, offering loans of up to ₦1 million to youth-led agribusinesses. The country has also launched multiple initiatives, including a partnership with the Netherlands to train 10,000 young people up to half of them women in poultry, aquaculture, cassava, and horticulture.
Shettima also highlighted the $1.1 billion Green Imperative Project with Brazil, and the initial rollout of 2,000 tractors under a $70 million plan expected to reach over 550,000 farming households. A separate agreement with John Deere aims to deploy 10,000 tractors within five years.
The Vice President emphasized that the plan will integrate agro-tech training, mentorship, and close monitoring to ensure long-term impact, calling it “a generational mission” requiring shared responsibility
