By Abbas Nazil
The Federal Government has called for stronger partnerships with development organisations, including Heifer International, to promote youth-led agricultural innovation and strengthen Nigeria’s food security through technology-driven farming solutions.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Aliyu Abdullahi, made the call during the grand finale of the fifth edition of the Agriculture, Youth and Technology (AYuTe) Challenge held in Abuja.
Abdullahi said government alone could not transform Nigeria’s agricultural sector, stressing that collaboration with private organisations and development partners was necessary to support young entrepreneurs, provide funding opportunities, and scale innovative solutions capable of improving food production.
He explained that organisations such as Heifer International play a critical role in creating platforms that connect promising agricultural innovators with resources, mentorship, and opportunities needed to turn ideas into successful businesses.
“We recognise that the government alone cannot do this. We need ecosystem builders like Heifer International to continue providing the platforms, funding and mentorship that bridge the gap between brilliant ideas and market-ready solutions,” he said.
The minister stated that the government was implementing measures aimed at removing barriers limiting youth participation in agriculture.
According to him, efforts are being made to improve access to land, affordable financing, modern agricultural inputs, and other resources required to encourage more young Nigerians to embrace farming as a business opportunity.
Abdullahi described food security as a major priority of the administration of President Bola Tinubu, noting that Nigeria must move away from dependence on traditional subsistence farming and embrace technology-based commercial agriculture.
He said the country’s rapidly growing population required a transition towards high-yield agricultural systems supported by innovation, digital tools, and modern farming techniques.
The minister revealed that more than 2,000 agricultural innovations were submitted for the 2026 edition of the AYuTe Challenge, describing the finalists as representatives of the future of Nigerian agriculture.
He noted that while financial grants would support winners in expanding their businesses, the mentorship, exposure, and connections provided through the programme would create long-term benefits for their ventures.
The Country Director of Heifer International Nigeria, Dr Lekan Tobe, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to attracting more young people into agriculture by promoting technology and innovation.
Tobe said the AYuTe Challenge was designed to change the perception of agriculture among young Nigerians by encouraging digital solutions and modern approaches rather than traditional farming practices.
He explained that the initiative had supported several successful agribusinesses, including Ninsey Agro, Essential Africa, Scratops, and Superfarm Market, whose founders have expanded their operations beyond Nigeria.
He disclosed that winners of the latest competition would receive prizes worth $43,000, with the overall winner receiving $20,000, the first runner-up getting $15,000, and the second runner-up receiving $8,000.
Beyond the financial rewards, he said beneficiaries would receive business coaching, mentorship, technical support, and access to investors to help commercialise their agricultural innovations.
Communications Manager of Heifer Nigeria, Chuba Ezeigwe, said the Ayute Africa Challenge Nigeria was established to support agritech start-ups and is currently operating across nine African countries.
He explained that the programme provides annual grants of up to $40,000 for promising Nigerian agribusinesses, while the regional Ayute NextGen programme offers up to $1 million to support larger agritech companies seeking to expand.
Ezeigwe added that the initiative receives between 2,000 and 3,000 applications annually, which are reviewed and narrowed down to the top five finalists who compete for funding and support.
He stressed that supporting young innovators through technology, investment, and mentorship would be essential in building a resilient agricultural sector capable of addressing food security challenges in Nigeria and across Africa.
