The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), in partnership with the Federal Government and the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises Niger-Delta (LIFE-ND) Project, has concluded plans to support 697 trained youths in Ondo State with agribusiness grants after completing their training programme.
The beneficiaries, described as incubates under the LIFE-ND project, were drawn from nine Local Government Areas and 49 communities across the state. They were trained in different agricultural value chains including cassava production and processing, cocoa production and marketing, poultry farming, fish production and vegetable farming.
The development was disclosed by the IFAD State Project Coordinator (SPC), Dr Olawale Ademola, during a learning route programme organised for selected trainees at Nibanola Farms in Ondo Town.
Ademola, who was represented by the IFAD State Knowledge Management and Communication Officer, Mr Gbenga Agbotoba, said the project had moved beyond training and was now preparing to support the young farmers financially to establish their businesses.
According to him, the programme was designed not only to equip participants with practical agricultural skills but also to prepare them for sustainable agribusiness operations capable of improving food production and reducing unemployment.
“The 697 incubates enrolled in November 2025. Some were trained for one month while some underwent training for three months, and each person received a monthly stipend of N50,000 during the training period,” he said.
“Now, the project is putting things in order to empower and support them by giving grants to start their business and put into practice what they have been trained for.”
He explained that the learning route organised at Nibanola Farms was part of efforts to expose the trainees to real agribusiness environments and successful enterprise models that could strengthen their confidence before launching their own businesses.
About 30 trainees from Akure North, Akoko North-West, Owo, Ondo East, Ilaje and Ese-Odo LGAs participated in the learning exercise.
Agbotoba said the exposure was expected to help the trainees understand business management, value chain development and long-term sustainability in agriculture.
The IFAD official also encouraged more young Nigerians to embrace agriculture as a profitable business sector rather than depending solely on white-collar jobs.
According to him, opportunities exist across several agricultural chains including cocoa nursery production, cassava processing, poultry production, fish farming, vegetable cultivation and agricultural marketing.
General Manager of Nibanola Farms, Mr Segun Akinbinuade, also urged the trainees to approach agriculture with the right mindset, noting that agribusiness had become a profitable sector capable of creating wealth and employment opportunities.
He advised the participants to remain focused and consistent, adding that success in farming depends heavily on discipline, persistence and long-term commitment.
One of the beneficiaries, Adebukunola Olowolagba, a poultry farmer from Akoko North-West LGA, said the training and exposure had given her more confidence to grow her business.
“The visit to Nibanola Farms today has given me more encouragement in my poultry farming business,” she said.
“The farm believes in persistence and consistency, so if we young farmers can put more effort into our various farming areas, definitely success will be ours too.”
Another participant, Salaudeen Isiaka from Isuada in Owo LGA, said the programme had opened the eyes of many young people to opportunities in agribusiness.
He said the planned grant support from IFAD and the Federal Government would help many trained youths start small-scale agricultural businesses with limited capital and gradually expand operations.
The LIFE-ND project is one of the major youth-focused agricultural empowerment programmes currently being implemented to improve livelihoods, increase food production and encourage youth participation in agribusiness across the Niger Delta region.
