FCMB has backed a new nationwide initiative designed to improve access to land, financing and business opportunities for young Nigerians interested in agriculture.
Follow us on Google News
The initiative, known as the National Youth in Agribusiness Land Trust Fund, was launched by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development in partnership with the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA). The programme is focused on helping young agripreneurs overcome one of the biggest challenges in the sector — access to land.
The launch event took place in Abuja and brought together government officials, financial institutions, development organisations, youth groups and stakeholders across Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.
FCMB is one of the major private sector supporters of the initiative. According to the bank, the programme is expected to create more opportunities for enterprise development, financing access, job creation and youth participation in agribusiness.
Organisers said the Youth in Agribusiness Land Trust Fund will provide a framework that allows young Nigerians to access land for farming and other agricultural activities while also supporting entrepreneurship and value-chain development.
Speaking during the launch, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, said the programme aligns with the government’s broader goal of increasing youth involvement in agriculture and building sustainable agribusiness opportunities across the country.
“We want to train more than six million Nigerian youths in the coming years. We want to support at least 500,000 youth-led agribusinesses and connect young Nigerians to local and international markets,” Olawande said.
According to him, agriculture remains one of the strongest sectors for job creation and economic growth in Nigeria, but many young people still struggle to enter the industry because they cannot secure land for farming or related business activities.
“Agriculture has the potential to create millions of jobs, improve food production, reduce poverty, and accelerate economic growth. However, access to land remains one of the biggest barriers confronting young people today, and this initiative seeks to address that challenge,” he added.
The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, also described the initiative as an important step towards reducing barriers affecting youth participation in agriculture. He noted that the programme could help create a more enabling environment for youth-led agribusinesses to grow.
Representing FCMB at the event, the bank’s Divisional Head for Agribusiness and Non-Oil Export, Kudzai Gumunyu, said the future of Nigerian agriculture depends on building support systems that reflect the realities of young people entering the sector.
“The future of Nigerian agriculture depends on how well we structure financing and support systems around the realities of young people and the sector,” Gumunyu said.
He explained that agriculture should no longer be viewed only as traditional farming, but as a modern and technology-driven industry with opportunities across logistics, processing, commodity trading, mechanisation, digital platforms and innovation.
According to Gumunyu, many young Nigerians still face serious challenges when trying to access funding because they lack collateral and financial structures required by lenders.
He said FCMB has continued to support agricultural innovation through initiatives such as its AgTech Aggregator Programme, which focuses on supporting startups and innovators building solutions across the agricultural value chain.
“Building the right ecosystem is critical. The future of Nigerian agriculture is young, climate-smart, market-driven, and innovation-enabled. To unlock its full potential, we must strengthen partnerships that improve access to finance, technical support, technology, and market opportunities,” he added.
The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, also said collaboration between government agencies, financial institutions and development partners would help strengthen youth entrepreneurship in agriculture.
The Federal Ministry of Youth Development and IITA commended FCMB and other supporting organisations for contributing to initiatives focused on youth empowerment and agricultural development in Nigeria.
The event also attracted representatives from donor agencies, state governments, youth networks, agribusiness groups, development institutions and members of the NYSC.
