Oyo State has commenced the disbursement of N1.5 billion to 1,000 young agripreneurs under its Youth Entrepreneurs in Agriculture Programme/Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (YEAP-SAfER), signalling a major push to strengthen youth empowerment, scale agribusiness, and drive long-term economic growth through structured support and strategic partnerships.
The rollout, flagged off by Governor Seyi Makinde at the Oyo State Agribusiness Transformation Centre, Fasola, reflects a deliberate effort to move beyond short-term interventions and build a sustainable system that supports productivity and enterprise development among young people.
Each beneficiary of the programme is set to receive N1.5 million to expand their agribusiness ventures. The beneficiaries were selected from participants previously trained at CSS Integrated Farms in Gora, Nasarawa State, where they were equipped with practical skills and exposed to modern agricultural practices.
The initiative is being implemented in collaboration with First City Monument Bank and the Mastercard Foundation, reinforcing the state’s approach of combining public investment with private and development sector support to achieve wider economic impact.
Speaking at the event, Makinde emphasised that the disbursement is not merely about financial aid but about building a lasting framework for economic sustainability. “This is not just about disbursing funds; it is about reinforcing a system. Sustainable development is not built on isolated interventions but on deliberate, structured and consistent actions over time,” he said.
He noted that youth empowerment remains central to his administration’s development agenda, with agriculture positioned as a key driver of job creation and economic expansion. According to him, the programme is designed to ensure that young people are not only trained but also supported with the resources needed to translate knowledge into viable businesses.
Makinde also highlighted that the YEAP initiative, launched in 2021, has already delivered measurable results in building agribusiness capacity across the state. He stressed that education, entrepreneurship and productivity form the foundation of the government’s strategy for economic prosperity.
“This intervention goes beyond financial support. It is about strengthening a system that promotes productivity, entrepreneurship and long-term growth,” the governor added.
Providing further insight, the Director-General of the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency, Dr Debo Akande, described the programme as a shift from fragmented support schemes to a more structured and scalable model for enterprise development. He revealed that over 50,000 youths have been trained in agribusiness in the past five years, with many already running successful ventures.
The funding structure also reflects a shared commitment to the programme’s success. Makinde disclosed that while the state government contributed N500 million, development partners provided N1 billion, demonstrating confidence in the initiative as a model for inclusive growth.
He urged beneficiaries to make prudent use of the funds, noting that although the support is provided without collateral, it requires discipline and accountability to ensure sustainability and impact.
