By Faridat Salifu
In a bid to tackle unemployment and food insecurity, the Federal Government last Wednesday launched a new initiative called Green Money Project aimed at empowering Nigerian youth through agriculture.
The programme was launched at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB).
Speaking at the launch, the Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Agriculture, Abiodun Yinusa, described the project as a strategic pillar of the administration’s wider efforts to boost food security and youth involvement in economic development.
According to him, the initiative aligns with President Tinubu’s recent declaration of a national emergency on food security and is deeply rooted in the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“The Green Money Project will harness the potential of our vast agricultural resources by training and supporting youth with modern techniques, including climate-smart farming, digital tools, and mechanisation,” Yinusa said.
The initiative is expected to be rolled out across selected universities, youth centres, and technical colleges nationwide, offering young Nigerians the tools and resources to actively participate in transforming the agricultural sector.
Yinusa stressed the urgency of the project, citing high youth unemployment and underutilisation of the country’s agricultural potential as pressing challenges.
Project Coordinator, Charles Folayan, added that the programme’s core components include data development, capacity building, mentorship, access to markets, and support for agribusiness start-ups.
The Vice Chancellor of FUNAAB, Professor Olushola Kehinde, expressed appreciation to the presidency for selecting the institution as a key partner.
He described the initiative as both timely and impactful, expressing optimism that it would boost the university’s role in food production and innovation in the agricultural value chain.
As Nigeria seeks long-term solutions to economic challenges, the Green Money Project is positioning agriculture as not just a survival strategy, but a pathway to prosperity for the nation’s youth.