In a strategic move to foster youth empowerment and agricultural development, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has distributed critical farm inputs and equipment to over 70 young farmers in Oyo State. The initiative is part of the ongoing Youth in Agribusiness Project, supported by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and aimed at promoting sustainable agribusiness start-ups across Nigeria.
The distribution ceremony took place at the IITA headquarters in Ibadan on May 2, 2025, and marked the continuation of similar interventions previously held in Abuja, Kano, and Ogun states.
Among the farm inputs and equipment provided were solar irrigation systems, improved cassava stems, rotary slashers, defeathering machines, fertilizers, maize seeds, gari fryers, fish and poultry feed, vegetable seeds, seedling trays, coco peat, generators, knapsack sprayers, and gari pressers. These items are expected to significantly boost productivity in value chains such as cassava, poultry, aquaculture, horticulture, and agro-processing.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Michael Abberton, Head of the Genetic Resources Center and representative of the IITA Senior Management Team, congratulated the beneficiaries for their commitment to agriculture and encouraged them to leverage the IITA support network.
“Youth involvement in agribusiness has remained central to IITA’s focus for over a decade. With the right tools and mentorship, your agribusiness ventures can scale, create jobs, and strengthen food systems,” Abberton stated.
He emphasized that the impact of the inputs would extend beyond the farms into broader economic and social development for local communities.
The CEO of IITA Youth Agripreneurs, Aline Mugisho, represented by Business Development Expert Idowu Osun, reiterated the organization’s commitment to ongoing support through coaching and networking.
“We’re not just handing out equipment. We are building a pipeline of skilled agripreneurs who can take agriculture from subsistence to enterprise level,” Osun said.
Project Coordinator Adebayo Awotodunbo expressed gratitude to the Kingdom of the Netherlands for its consistent support of youth-focused agricultural initiatives. He, however, cautioned beneficiaries against misuse of the inputs, warning that monitoring teams would revisit farms for evaluation.
“Our intervention doesn’t end with distribution. We will be conducting follow-ups to ensure that these tools are used to drive productivity. Any act of diversion or misuse will lead to disqualification from future phases,” Awotodunbo warned.
One of the beneficiaries, Ayomikun Oyesiji, described the support as transformational. “The training and tools I received have helped me understand the business side of farming. My profits have increased, and I now plan to employ two more youths on my farm,” she said.
Agricultural analysts have praised IITA’s Youth in Agribusiness Project as a sustainable model for reducing youth unemployment and revamping Nigeria’s agricultural sector. By addressing access to inputs, training, and mentorship, the program is positioning agribusiness as a viable and profitable path for young Nigerians.
In recent years, Nigeria has faced mounting concerns over food insecurity, rural unemployment, and low agricultural productivity. Experts believe that targeted interventions like the IITA project offer scalable solutions to tackle these challenges.
With growing global emphasis on food systems transformation, initiatives like this could catalyze inclusive growth and help Nigeria tap into the vast potential of its youthful population and arable land.