The Ekiti State Government has announced plans to expand investments in the Bring-Back-the-Youths-in-Agriculture programme by increasing its scale and the number of beneficiaries in 2026, following what it described as strong economic and social outcomes from the initiative.
Governor Biodun Oyebanji disclosed this during his 2026 New Year State Broadcast, where he said the results recorded so far have encouraged the government to commit more resources to the programme in the new year.
According to the governor, the agriculture renewal policy, which focuses on bringing youths back into farming through structured projects and livestock hubs across several locations in Ekiti State, has continued to deliver positive outcomes in food production, employment and income generation.
“Our agriculture renewal policy of bringing back the youths in agriculture projects, including the various livestock hubs and the YSJ agriculture programmes, has continued to yield excellent result,” Oyebanji said.
He explained that the programme has contributed to massive food availability across the state, leading to what he described as an unprecedented reduction in headline inflation on food items, reversing Ekiti’s long-standing position as one of the states with high food prices in the South West.
The governor further disclosed that just about two weeks ago, the state government distributed N1.4 billion as profit for the year to participating youths under the Bring-Back-the-Youths-in-Agriculture project.
“I distributed N1.4 billion as profit for the year to the participating youths in the Bring-Back-the-Youths-in-Agriculture project. This is a significant micro-economic policy success for us as a state,” he said.
Oyebanji noted that the programme has already created new income earners and helped previously unemployed youths become financially independent through agriculture.
With the encouraging outcomes, the governor said his administration is determined to invest further in the project and expand its lines and cohorts in 2026.
“With the exciting result that we have received, I am more than encouraged to invest further in the project and to further expand the lines and cohorts in the new year,” he added.
He encouraged more youths across the state to key into the programme and take advantage of the opportunities it offers as part of the government’s broader economic empowerment strategy.
