Foundation, NYSC renew commitment to youth empowerment in agribusiness
The Leventis Foundation Nigeria (LFN) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have reaffirmed their joint commitment to empowering Nigerian youths through agribusiness and entrepreneurship as a means of tackling unemployment and boosting food security. Speaking at the 2025 Agricultural Youth Summit held in Abuja, the Chairman of Leventis Foundation Nigeria, Alhaji Ahmed Manti, said […]
The Leventis Foundation Nigeria (LFN) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have reaffirmed their joint commitment to empowering Nigerian youths through agribusiness and entrepreneurship as a means of tackling unemployment and boosting food security.
Speaking at the 2025 Agricultural Youth Summit held in Abuja, the Chairman of Leventis Foundation Nigeria, Alhaji Ahmed Manti, said the event demonstrated a shared national commitment to youth empowerment and sustainable agriculture.
“This gathering reflects our collective resolve to equip young Nigerians not just with skills but with resilience, creativity, and access to resources that will enable them to thrive,” Manti said.
He noted that the Foundation had trained over 31,000 young Nigerians in modern agricultural and entrepreneurship practices through its six training centres across the country.
“At Leventis Foundation, we are deliberate about upskilling youths and connecting them to finance and innovation so they can become employers of labour and contributors to food security,” he added.
Representing the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General O.O. Nafiu, the Corps’ Director of Ventures Management, Mr. Abe Dankaro, said the collaboration between NYSC and LFN under the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme had already produced tangible results.
“This is not just about farming; it is about building a generation of self-reliant, job-creating, and economically empowered youths who will take agriculture to new heights of innovation,” Dankaro said.
He called on private sector players and development agencies to invest more in agribusiness hubs and youth-led agricultural enterprises.
“We must reframe agriculture from a last resort to a first choice — a sector of innovation, dignity, and opportunity,” he urged.
In her welcome address, Executive Director of Leventis Foundation Nigeria, Mrs. Hope Usieta, emphasized the importance of financial inclusion for smallholder farmers and young agripreneurs.
“Improving access to agri-finance is crucial for increasing productivity and ensuring food security,” Usieta said. “Despite progress, challenges remain, and there is a critical need to do more to advance practical solutions.”
She revealed that through the LFN–NYSC partnership, 40 Corps Members had completed agribusiness internships, while 50 others were currently undergoing training across the Foundation’s schools.
Usieta added that the summit, which featured workshops and exhibitions by agribusinesses and development partners, aimed to generate actionable ideas for strengthening Nigeria’s agricultural system and driving youth participation.