The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to provide up to ₦2 billion to each of 40 selected tertiary institutions to promote commercial agriculture. This initiative, part of the Renewed Hope Tertiary Agricultural and Entrepreneurship Programme, aims to turn university and polytechnic farmlands into commercial agricultural hubs. The programme seeks to strengthen food production, promote the commercialisation of agricultural research, and create employment opportunities for Nigerian youths. The initiative is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's commitment to addressing food insecurity under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The programme will tackle the longstanding underutilisation of agricultural land in tertiary institutions by providing financing, machinery, technical expertise, and institutional support. Participating universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education are expected to provide approximately 1,000 hectares of land each. Institutions with smaller landholdings may also qualify based on the strength and viability of their business proposals. Each participating institution will establish a limited liability company to partner with the Bank of Agriculture, which will provide financing for agricultural production and related inputs.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this during a meeting with heads of the 40 selected tertiary institutions and the management of the Bank of Agriculture. He explained that the programme builds on previous Federal Government interventions through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund). The Federal Ministry of Education has also made provision for ₦20 billion in its capital budget to support 20 tertiary institutions under the agricultural development initiative. This programme aims to unlock more than 500,000 hectares of underutilised institutional land.
On mechanisation, Alausa said participating institutions would have access to 10 tractors each at significantly reduced costs through the government's agricultural mechanisation initiative. Other components of the support package include modern seedlings, farm implements, irrigation equipment, water pumps, fertilisers, and technical expertise to enhance productivity and ensure efficient farm operations. To guarantee markets for agricultural produce, arrangements will be made with produce aggregators to purchase harvested crops.
The programme is not limited to increasing food production but will establish a sustainable agricultural value chain. Processing and other agro-allied activities are expected to feature in subsequent phases. According to Alausa, agriculture and agro-allied businesses offer significant employment opportunities, particularly for Nigeria's youthful population. Students, unemployed graduates, and university alumni will be encouraged to participate in commercial farming alongside academic and non-academic staff and members of host communities.
The initiative could attract investments running into trillions of naira in the coming years while repositioning tertiary institutions as centres of agricultural innovation, commercial production, and enterprise development. The Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Professor Adamu Ahmed, welcomed the initiative, describing it as a timely opportunity to harness the institution's extensive agricultural research and production capacity. The Rector of Federal Polytechnic Oko, Dr Chioma Irene Awuzie, also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Education for the initiative.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of Agriculture, Ayo Sotinrin, described the programme as an opportunity to channel sustainable financing into the agricultural potential of tertiary institutions. He explained that the bank will support participating institutions with financing and market linkages while helping to commercialise agricultural research, improve productivity, and create opportunities for students and unemployed graduates. The Federal Ministry of Education remains committed to the programme, assuring that the ministry will work closely with the Bank of Agriculture and relevant government agencies to ensure successful implementation.
Key points
- The Federal Government of Nigeria will provide up to ₦2 billion to each of 40 selected tertiary institutions to promote commercial agriculture.
- The programme aims to unlock more than 500,000 hectares of underutilised institutional land and create employment opportunities for Nigerian youths.
- The initiative could attract investments running into trillions of naira in the coming years while repositioning tertiary institutions as centres of agricultural innovation.
