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By Tracy M
The Leventis Foundation Nigeria, in partnership with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), is set to host the 2025 Agricultural Youth Summit in Abuja, a landmark initiative aimed at empowering young Nigerians with practical agribusiness skills, innovative financing options, and opportunities to build sustainable agricultural enterprises.
Scheduled to hold on Thursday, November 6, 2025, at Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja, the summit will focus on the theme: “Building Youth and Agripreneurs’ Resilience for Agribusiness through Targeted Upskilling and Innovative Agri-Finance.”
Speaking at a pre-summit media briefing on Wednesday, the Executive Director of Leventis Foundation Nigeria, Mr. Hope Usieta, said the summit was conceived to address the persistent challenges limiting the growth of youth-led agribusinesses, particularly inadequate access to finance, market linkages, and enterprise sustainability.
“This year’s summit is a deliberate response to the hurdles confronting young people in agriculture. Our goal is to equip them with the knowledge, tools, and support systems needed to build resilient and innovative agribusinesses,” Usieta stated.
As part of the Foundation’s youth empowerment drive, Usieta announced that ₦2 million in grants would be awarded to outstanding young agripreneurs who present viable business ideas and pitches during the summit.
“This initiative is not just ceremonial, it’s a strategic investment in the creativity and determination of Nigerian youth,” he added. “We believe that with the right support, they can drive the next phase of agricultural transformation.”
He explained that the summit will feature expert-led workshops, panel discussions, and stakeholder dialogues on innovative agri-finance, digital agriculture, branding, packaging, and risk management. Participants will also gain exposure to digital tools, business development techniques, and financing solutions to help them start, expand, or diversify their ventures.
According to Usieta, the gathering will serve as a collaborative platform for government agencies, private sector players, and development partners to strengthen innovation and productivity within Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.
“No single organization can transform the sector in isolation. The progress we desire will only come through synergy, shared learning, and collective investment in youth empowerment,” he noted.
Also speaking, the Director of Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) at NYSC, Mr. Kehinde Aremu, described the partnership as a strategic step toward positioning agriculture as a viable and rewarding career path for Nigerian youths.
“Over the years, the NYSC has nurtured thousands of corps members into successful farmers and agripreneurs. Yet, one major bottleneck remains access to finance,” Aremu said. “We hope this summit will inspire flexible financing models that truly work for young farmers rather than against them.”
He urged stakeholders and the media to support the initiative, noting that empowering young people in agriculture is key to boosting food production and ensuring national security.
The 2025 Agricultural Youth Summit will feature technical sessions facilitated by Extension Africa, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), the Abuja Enterprise Agency, and Business Visa and Training Co. Ltd.
The one-day event will culminate in the recognition of innovative agribusiness ideas and a call to action for inclusive agricultural transformation across the country.