By Daniel Tyokua
Leventis Foundation Nigeria, is taking steps to increase youth participation in agribusiness, aiming to empower young people with opportunities in the agricultural sector.
The Executive Director of the Foundation, Hope Usieta during the pre-2025 Agricultural Youth Summit press briefing, on Wednesday, said young Nigerians represent both the greatest opportunity and the most important resource for building a sustainable agricultural future.
He said this year’s summit, with the themed “Building Youth and Agripreneurs’ Resilience for Agribusiness through Targeted Upskilling and Innovative Agri-Finance,” is a deliberate topic considering the challenges faced by numerous Agripreneurs.
The Director explained that youth-led agribusinesses in establishing thriving agribusinesses and there is the need to proffer solutions.
The summit in partnership with National Youth Service Corp (NYSC), is important because it underscore the collective resolve to strengthen youth participation, innovation, and resilience in the country’s agricultural sector.
He said the 2025 Summit, scheduled to take place on November 6, 2025, in Abuja, will convene young agripreneurs, policymakers, development partners and financiers, and agricultural experts from across the country.
Useita said, “As many of us know, the global agricultural system is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by social and economic pressures and climate change. In this context,
Nigeria’s young people represent both the greatest opportunity and the most important resource for building a sustainable agricultural future.
“At Leventis Foundation Nigeria, we have remained steadfast in our mission to train, empower, and mentor young Nigerians to become agripreneurs who can create jobs, boost productivity, and contribute to national food security. The Agricultural Youth Summit builds on that commitment by providing a dynamic platform for learning, collaboration, and enterprise development.
“Through this summit, we aim to equip participants with practical skills, business insights, and access to innovative agri-finance tools that can help them start or scale their agribusinesses”he said.
He said in partnership with the NYSC, “we will be awarding up to ₦2 million in grants to outstanding young agribusiness owners who present viable ideas and pitches during the summit. This initiative is not merely symbolic, but it is a deliberate investment in youth-led agricultural innovation and entrepreneurship.
“The one-day event which will feature expert-led workshops, panel sessions, key stakeholder presentations, an exhibition of agribusinesses are designed to be hands-on and solution-oriented. Each session would offer practical guidance that participants can immediately apply to their ventures”.
