The Green Money Project, also known as the Presidential Initiative for the Empowerment of Youth in Agriculture, has been formally launched by the federal government at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) in Ogun State.
According to the Special Assistant to the President on Agriculture, Hon. Abiodun Yinusa, who spoke at the flag-off ceremony, the project is a strategic step to unlock Nigeria’s immense agricultural potential by actively incorporating young people in the industry.
He said the project intends to supplement current efforts by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s proclamation of a state of emergency on food security.
Yinusa emphasised the importance of stakeholder collaboration in driving youth participation and innovation in agriculture.
Highlighting the link between the country’s key challenges—unemployment, poverty, and food insecurity and the under utilisation of agriculture by the youth, Yinusa reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s commitment under the Renewed Hope Agenda to empower Nigerian youth to lead a new wave of agricultural transformation.
“In line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the national food security emergency, The Green Money Project aims to empower young Nigerians through agricultural development.
“The project will attract, train, and support youth by equipping them with knowledge in modern agricultural practices, mechanisation, climate-smart farming techniques, and digital technologies.
“The initiative will be implemented across selected universities, youth development centres, and technical colleges nationwide, with the overarching goal of contributing to the achievement of zero hunger in Nigeria,” Yinusa said.
Also speaking, the Project Coordinator, Mr. Charles Olufemi Folayan, said that the project is focused on four pillars: creating a verifiable database of young farmers to facilitate effective tracking, support, and engagement and equipping youth with modern farming techniques, mechanisation skills, climate-smart practices, and digital agricultural tools.
In addition to delivering professional mentorship and facilitating linkages to local and worldwide markets to promote business growth and scalability, the others give access to high-quality supplies, equipment, and agribusiness financing to increase productivity and guarantee sustainability.
Professor Olushola Kehinde praised the Presidency for selecting FUNAAB as one of the partner institutions and characterising the program as an effective and timely intervention.
During a tour of the university’s agricultural facilities, he highlighted several research and operational achievements. He hoped the collaboration would significantly increase the university’s value chain development and food production capacity.
Source: The Nation
Image Credit: FreePik
