The Federal Government has pledged to provide funding support to South South youths in agriculture to boost their access to funding for agribusiness projects in the region.
The South-South Coordinator of the Nigerian Agribusiness and Agro-Industry Development Initiative, Mr Howard Usen, gave the assurance during the inauguration of the South-South Youth in Agriculture, Akwa Ibom State Chapter, in Uyo, on Friday.
He said the inauguration marked a turning point in youth participation in agriculture across the region, adding that many associations fail to attract meaningful funding due to a lack of structure and proper governance frameworks.
He explained that NAADI, in partnership with the Federation of Agricultural Communities of Nigeria, will assist the newly inaugurated body in developing covenants and operational standards that would meet global best practices.
“If you don’t have structure and good covenants, most organisations will not fund you. But once these structures are in place, it becomes easier for organisations and agencies to support and invest in you. We are committed to helping this body establish these standards”, Usen declared.
According to him, NAADI will also partner with relevant expos and institutions to provide training for executives of the association across all local government areas of the state. He noted that the training would cover areas such as cooperative management, financial accountability, and the development of templates aligned with United Nations Industrial Development Organisation standards.
“With these minimum standards, accessing funding from government agencies, development partners, and international organisations will no longer be difficult,” he added.
In a goodwill message, the Head of Development Finance at the CBN, Uyo branch, Mr Obinna Inyiama, assured that the apex bank is fully committed to supporting agric-related projects, particularly for youths.
He highlighted the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme as a key intervention window through which farmers could access loans of up to N1 million from Microfinance Banks, adding that CBN would guarantee 75 per cent of the loan value in case of default, thereby de-risking lending to young farmers.
“The facility can last up to one year, and beneficiaries who meet repayment obligations can reapply. With just 40 per cent of the interest amount paid by CBN, even as farmers can roll over into another cycle,” Inyiama explained, urging youths to take advantage of the scheme.
Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Offiong Offor, commended the resilience of the Youth in Agriculture programme, recalling that Akwa Ibom youths have consistently topped national competitions due to record cassava yields and innovative farming practices.
She assured that the ministry would continue to provide improved seedlings and technical support in line with Governor Umo Eno’s ARISE Agenda on food security.
She, however, advised the new leadership of the youth body to always submit requests in good time to ensure the timely delivery of inputs.
The event climaxed with the formal inauguration of the Akwa Ibom State chapter executives, led by Mr Sylvester Sunday, who pledged to mobilise young people across the state to embrace agriculture as a sustainable pathway to prosperity.
The inauguration, stakeholders noted, signals a new era of institutional backing for South-South youths in agriculture, with renewed hopes for access to credit, capacity building, and improved productivity.
Agriculture has long been regarded as a critical driver of Nigeria’s economy, employing over 35 per cent of the labour force and contributing significantly to food security and non-oil revenue.
However, youths in the South-South region, despite their potential, have often faced challenges in accessing credit facilities, modern training, and structured support needed to fully explore opportunities in agribusiness.
To bridge this gap, NAADI was established to create institutional frameworks that strengthen youth participation in agriculture.
Partnering with the Federation of Agricultural Communities of Nigeria, NAADI seeks to provide governance structures, covenants, and operational standards that align with international best practices, thereby making youth agricultural associations more attractive to funding bodies and development partners.
FOLLOW US ON:
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
PINTEREST
TIKTOK
YOUTUBE
LINKEDIN
TUMBLR
INSTAGRAM
