Nigeria has unveiled one of its most far-reaching agricultural empowerment programmes in decades—a partnership between the Federal Government and the UNESCO Read and Earn Federation (UNESCO REF) designed to equip 4.5 million Nigerians with climate-smart, income-generating agribusiness skills by 2030.
The initiative, launched in Abuja by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Food Security (SSAP-FS), marks a major strategic shift toward youth-driven, technology-enabled agriculture, with a strong emphasis on women, climate resilience, and new green value chains.
Senior Special Assistant on Food Security, Mrs. Tolu Ogundipe, said the programme forms a central pillar of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, describing food security as “a covenant with the Nigerian people”—not merely a policy aspiration.
A National Mobilisation for Agricultural Enterprise
The programme is anchored on the UNESCO REF Strategic Intervention Programme (Alpha Category II), particularly the Young Women in Agriculture (YWA) framework, and aligns directly with SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
It will run through 2030, structured in two phases:
- Phase 1: Empowerment and financial support for 3 million Nigerians
- Phase 2: An additional 1.5 million beneficiaries
The total 4.5 million represents a subset of the 12 million Nigerians targeted under a broader national agricultural mobilisation campaign.
Beneficiaries are drawn from:
- Young women across the six geopolitical zones
- Youths seeking entry into agribusiness
- Civil servants nearing retirement and seeking post-service livelihoods
- Vulnerable groups requiring sustainable income streams
The programme will offer training in Hydroponics and Agro-Kenaf Enterprise Development, two fast-growing sectors in climate-smart agriculture.
Ogundipe noted that Kenaf farmers alone could earn at least ₦400,000 every 12 weeks, creating a new generation of micro-entrepreneurs and strengthening national food sovereignty.
A Multi-Sector Coalition for Food Security
Stakeholders present included POWA, ROSOWA, and Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development—signalling broad national buy-in across security, women development and community structures.
Ogundipe emphasised that her office will “broker the financial support required to ensure that millions of Nigerians benefit,” adding that the programme is not just an agricultural intervention but:
“A national security and empowerment strategy.”
The initiative also complements the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP)—positioning agriculture at the intersection of innovation, climate resilience, and economic reforms.
International Validation and Continental Ambition
President of UNESCO REF, Abdulsalami Ladigbolu-Oranmiyan, described the initiative as “a model of international best practice”, fully aligned with:
- UN 2030 Agenda
- UN 2039 Vision for Sustainable Growth
- African Union Agenda 2063
He said the programme aims to create “stability, prosperity and hope for millions of Nigerians and, by extension, Africa.”
UNESCO REF will provide long-term oversight, ensuring sustainability, transparency and global visibility.
BRANDECONOMY Insight
This partnership represents a tectonic shift in how Nigeria conceptualises agriculture—not as subsistence activity, but as a scalable economic engine powered by innovation, gender inclusion and climate-smart technologies.
Three factors stand out:
1️⃣ A Return to Structured Mass Mobilisation
Nigeria hasn’t seen a programme of this scale since the Operation Feed the Nation/Green Revolution era. But unlike past efforts, this one leverages technology, data, and market-driven models.
2️⃣ An Emerging Agritech Middle Class
Earnings of ₦400,000 per quarter for Kenaf farmers could rapidly expand Nigeria’s rural purchasing power and deepen financial inclusion.
3️⃣ Alignment with Global Climate Goals
Hydroponics and Kenaf represent low-carbon, high-yield value chains, positioning Nigeria as a continental leader in climate-smart agriculture.
If executed effectively, this programme could place millions on a path toward economic independence while strengthening Nigeria’s food systems, export potential and rural prosperity.
