The Federal Government has urged young entrepreneurs to deploy modern technology to expand Nigeria’s agricultural sector and improve national food security.
Speaking during the grand finale of the 2026 Agriculture, Youth and Technology (AYuTe) Nigeria Challenge in Abuja, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Aliyu Abdullahi, commended youth-led agritech enterprises as $40,000 in grant funding was awarded to top innovators.
The annual competition, organised by Heifer Nigeria, provides seed capital, technical mentorship, and market access to youth-led agritech firms developing solutions for smallholder farmers.
Dr Abdullahi emphasised that Nigeria must transition from traditional farming models toward commercial, technology-driven agriculture to feed its growing population.
He noted that incorporating precision farming tools, drone surveillance, artificial intelligence, and digital supply chains will increase crop yields, reduce post-harvest losses, and make commercial farming more profitable for young producers.
The Equipment Leasing Registration Authority (ELRA) announced a proposed partnership with Heifer International Nigeria.
ELRA Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Donald Wokoma, disclosed plans for the ELRA-Heifer Youth Enterprise Leasing Initiative.
The program will offer affordable equipment leasing options for youth-owned ventures, facilitating access to tractors, solar irrigation setups, processing machinery, cold storage units, and delivery vehicles.
Heifer Nigeria Country Director, Dr. Lekan Tobe, added that integrating technology with youth enterprise remains essential to reaching the national goal of a 1-trillion-dollar economy.
The grand finale concluded with the presentation of equity-free grants to the top three agritech founders. Kelechi Oleka, Founder of Kyoko Foods Ltd, won the overall 2026 AYuTe Nigeria Challenge grand prize of $20,000.
Bello Amos-Bwala, Founder of Agrigoo Trades and Commodity, secured second place with a $12,000 grant, while Udokanma George, Founder of Yemert Nigeria Ltd, received $8,000 for third place.
Heifer Nigeria confirmed that all ten finalists will receive ongoing business support, mentorship, and investor linkages to scale their operational reach across the country.
Source: NAN
