Federal Government and Leventis Foundation Announce ₦2 Million Agribusiness Grants for Nigerian Youths

The Federal Government, through the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has joined forces with the Leventis Foundation Nigeria to offer grants totalling ₦2 million to outstanding young agribusiness owners at this year’s Agricultural Youth Summit. Scheduled for November 6 in Abuja, the summit will serve as a platform where selected agripreneurs can pitch their innovative ideas and potentially secure vital funding to scale their ventures.

Speaking ahead of the event, Hope Usieta, Executive Director of the Leventis Foundation, described the grant initiative as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future. He emphasised that the aim is to empower youth-led agricultural innovation and entrepreneurship, build capacity for job creation, drive productivity, and strengthen national food security.

The summit’s theme this year—“Building Youth and Agripreneurs’ Resilience for Agribusiness through Targeted Upskilling and Innovative Agri-Finance”—reflects the urgent need to strengthen young farmers’ ability to meet economic and climate challenges while fostering creativity and growth. According to Usieta, the global agricultural sector is being reshaped by socio-economic and environmental shifts, and young Nigerians represent a key asset in that transformation.

Participants can expect a full program of workshops, panel discussions, stakeholder presentations and exhibitions showcasing youth-led agribusinesses. These elements are designed to provide not only inspiration but also practical tools such as business insights, innovative agri-finance options and networking opportunities with industry players.

The partnership between the NYSC and the Leventis Foundation highlights the government’s renewed commitment to harnessing youth talent in agriculture by providing skill-building opportunities, access to finance and fostering an innovation-driven agribusiness ecosystem. Stronger collaboration between public and private sectors, donor organisations and agribusiness investors was noted as critical to scaling impact and achieving sustainable development in the agricultural sector.