The Federal Government has called for stronger collaboration with development partners to accelerate youth-driven agricultural innovation and enhance food security across the country.
Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Aliyu Abdullahi, made the call at the grand finale of the fifth edition of the Agriculture, Youth and Technology Challenge in Abuja.
He said partnerships with organisations such as Heifer International were essential to supporting young entrepreneurs and promoting technology-based solutions capable of transforming the agricultural sector.
According to the minister, the government is implementing policies to improve access to land, credit facilities and modern farming inputs while creating an enabling environment for agribusiness innovation.
Abdullahi stressed that food security remains a major priority of the Tinubu administration, adding that Nigeria must transition from subsistence farming to technology-driven commercial agriculture.
He disclosed that more than 2,000 innovations were submitted for this year’s competition, describing the finalists as examples of the future of Nigerian agriculture.
Country Director of Heifer International Nigeria, Dr Lekan Tobe, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to making agriculture attractive to young people through innovation and digital technology.
He announced that winners of the competition would receive grants worth 43,000 dollars, alongside mentorship, coaching and access to investors to support business growth.
The initiative is aimed at encouraging young Nigerians to develop sustainable solutions that can improve agricultural productivity and food security.
