Stakeholders pledge commitment to inclusive skills development and sustainable growth in the agricultural sector
‘By Agbo Christian Obiora
In a major move toward transforming Nigeria’s agricultural landscape, stakeholders across the country’s agribusiness sector have renewed their commitment to strengthening multi-stakeholder partnerships aimed at youth empowerment, skills development, and inclusive economic growth.
The renewed commitment was underscored in Abuja on Thursday when the Special Assistant to the President on Capacity Development (OSAP-CD), Mr. Sadiq Rabiu, received a delegation from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). The meeting marked a significant milestone in preparations for the rollout of a joint initiative that promises to reshape agribusiness education and innovation in Nigeria.
Mr. Rabiu, in his statement, emphasized that the partnership with UNITAR is designed to empower Nigeria’s agripreneurs—young people, women, and persons with disabilities—to thrive in modern agriculture and value chain management.
“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 stated.
According to him, the project, known as the Presidential Fellowship Initiative (PFI), will establish structured pathways that link training to finance, ensuring that participants can access funding, mentorship, and resources needed to grow and sustain their agribusinesses.
“Through UNITAR’s collaboration, we aim to ensure that youths trained under this partnership framework can seamlessly transition from training to practice—accessing the necessary financial and institutional support mechanisms for business expansion,” he added.
Rabiu noted that the partnership also aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to youth empowerment, agricultural transformation, and inclusive prosperity through innovation-driven initiatives. He explained that the upcoming pilot phase of the PFI would combine digital learning platforms, expert-led in-person training sessions, and community-based entrepreneurship support, thereby creating an inclusive model for agricultural capacity development.
“Partnerships like this will not only open new doors of opportunity for Nigeria’s youth but also contribute to national prosperity through agribusiness innovation, job creation, and sustainable growth,” Rabiu said.
He described the collaboration as a bold step toward building a sustainable ecosystem that supports agricultural innovation, enterprise development, and employment creation for young Nigerians, especially those from marginalized and vulnerable groups.
On her part, Ms. Mihoko Kumamoto, Director, Division for Prosperity, UNITAR, expressed UNITAR’s readiness to support Nigeria in unlocking the potential of its young population and ensuring no one is left behind in the nation’s agricultural revolution.
“Nigeria is a nation brimming with promise,” she said. “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 emphasized that UNITAR’s collaboration will not only enhance technical and entrepreneurial capacities but also promote inclusive participation in agribusiness, ensuring that all groups, including persons with disabilities, have equal access to opportunities and resources.
The Presidential Fellowship Initiative (PFI) is structured to empower youth, women, and persons with disabilities while simultaneously strengthening local agricultural institutions across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. It seeks to advance digital agribusiness, entrepreneurship, and institutional capacity building with an intentional focus on inclusivity and sustainability.
The partnership is expected to drive Nigeria’s transition toward a knowledge-based agricultural economy, where technology, innovation, and inclusion intersect to create a new generation of farmers and agripreneurs.
Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s largest employment sectors, yet many youths are still disconnected from its potential due to lack of access to modern skills, finance, and market opportunities. Initiatives such as the PFI are therefore timely, as they promise to bridge the gap between potential and opportunity, transforming agriculture into a viable and attractive pathway for national development.
As discussions continue ahead of the official inauguration of the PFI, optimism runs high among stakeholders that this partnership will spark a new era of inclusive agribusiness transformation—one where every Nigerian, regardless of gender or disability, has the opportunity to cultivate success, innovation, and self-reliance.
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