Nigeria Unveils Revised Youth Manifesto in Agriculture (2025–2030)

A new chapter has been opened for Nigeria's agricultural sector as the Revised National Youth Manifesto in Agriculture (2025–2030) and the Nigerian Youth in Agribusiness Call to Action were officially validated in a high-level event held in Abuja.

The launch brought together young agripreneurs, development partners, policymakers, and civil society organizations in a collective effort to place Nigerian youth at the heart of agricultural innovation, climate resilience, and food systems transformation.

The policy and capacity-building bootcamp was spearheaded by the Leonard & Nkiruka Okonkwo Foundation (LANOF) in partnership with the Heinrich Böll Foundation (HBF) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS). The event aimed not only to endorse the revised manifesto but also to empower youth through training in sustainable agroecological practices and policy engagement.

In his opening remarks, LANOF Co-Founder Leonard Anayochukwu Okonkwo described the revised manifesto as a transformative step forward.

“We believe in a future where young Nigerians are not just beneficiaries but architects of agricultural policy and innovation,” Okonkwo said. “This Manifesto is a critical milestone that transforms bold policy into practical action, giving youth the tools and platforms to lead.”

Okonkwo emphasized that the collaboration behind the revised document reflects a national commitment to building a resilient, youth-driven agricultural sector, particularly in the face of climate change and growing food insecurity.

Barrister Nkiruka Stella Okonkwo, Co-Founder of LANOF, issued a strong appeal to government agencies, private sector players, and development partners to go beyond rhetoric and actively invest in youth-led agricultural ventures.

“Youth don’t just need encouragement they need capital, access to land, and platforms to build sustainable agribusinesses,” she stated. “Their contributions are essential to ensuring food security, improved nutrition, and sustainable livelihoods in Nigeria.”

She highlighted LANOF’s work in building capacity across a broad spectrum from personal development and climate-resilient agriculture to marketing, spiritual growth, and youth leadership.

Originally launched in 2017, the National Youth Manifesto in Agriculture was designed to address the structural and policy barriers that hindered youth participation in agriculture. With the realities of climate change, digital exclusion, gender inequality, and limited financial access growing more urgent, the revised 2025–2030 edition presents an expanded and more inclusive vision.

“This is not just a document. It’s an advocacy tool, a roadmap for investment, and a framework for institutional collaboration,” Nkiruka Okonkwo explained. “It aligns with national and continental policies including Nigeria’s National Youth Policy, NATIP, the Revised National Gender Policy in Agriculture, Africa’s Agenda 2063, ECOWAP/CAADP, and the UN Youth Declaration on Food Systems.”

Findings gathered from consultations across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones showcased a wave of youth-driven innovation:

South East: Youth are introducing AI-powered poultry management systems and solar-powered cassava dryers.

South West: Blockchain is being used for food traceability, while urban youth deploy modular aquaponics systems.

South South: Flood-prone areas are seeing the rise of floating gardens and apps that link fish farmers directly to markets.

North West: Mobile veterinary clinics and e-wallet insurance platforms are enhancing livestock farming.

North East: Displaced youth are pioneering trauma-informed agribusiness hubs, hydroponic fodder systems, and portable greenhouses.

North Central: Climate-smart cooperative farming is gaining traction, supported by mobile coordination tools.

The Revised Youth Manifesto in Agriculture (2025–2030) is expected to guide federal and state governments, development agencies, and the private sector in integrating youth perspectives into agricultural policymaking, planning, and investment.

Stakeholders are encouraged to adopt the Manifesto as a working framework to enable a food-secure, climate-resilient, and youth-led agricultural future for Nigeria.