By Abbas Nazil
Over 5,000 youths across all 325 wards in Plateau State have begun receiving hands-on training in wheat cultivation under a new federal government initiative aimed at addressing Nigeria’s food insecurity and youth unemployment.
The program, officially launched in Mangun, Mangu Local Government Area, marks the pilot phase of the Wheat Season Safety Project—part of broader efforts to revitalize agriculture under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
This major youth-focused agricultural scheme is designed to equip young Nigerians with practical skills in wheat production, strengthen food systems at the grassroots, and boost local and national economies through increased agricultural productivity.
The training comes at a critical time when the country is facing inflationary pressures, rising food prices, and concerns about food self-sufficiency.
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, led by Minister Senator Abubakar Kyari, is spearheading the project as one of several interventions in response to the recently declared state of emergency on agriculture.
Kyari highlighted the centrality of agriculture in Nigeria’s economy, noting that wheat production plays a strategic role in improving the nation’s food balance sheet and reducing reliance on imports.
He emphasized that empowering youth in agriculture is a key pillar of government policy aimed at job creation, poverty alleviation, and sustainable rural development.
Traditional and local community leaders have expressed strong support for the initiative.
His Royal Majesty, the Gbong Gwom Jos, Dah Jacob Gyang Buba, pledged that traditional institutions across Plateau would actively support wheat cultivation efforts and encourage community participation in agricultural development.
The National President of the Mwaghavul Development Association (MDA), Bulus Dabit, lauded the decision to site the project launch in Kombun District, calling it a vital step in bringing agricultural innovation closer to the grassroots.
He said the initiative would not only encourage youth engagement in farming but also serve as a model for inclusive rural development.
Youth representatives from various ethnic communities and the Plateau State chapter of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) expressed enthusiasm for the program, promising to work collectively to enhance wheat yields and food production in the region.
They described the pilot project as a transformative opportunity to turn agriculture into a viable source of income, innovation, and unity for young Nigerians.
As training progresses, stakeholders remain optimistic that this effort will serve as a catalyst for large-scale farming across other states, attract public-private investment, and help restore national confidence in Nigeria’s food production capabilities.
