By Elizabeth Osayande & Ifunanya Ndigwe

Honourable Minister of Livestock Development Mr Idi Mukhtar Maiha has called for a deliberate change in Nigeria’s educational approach to agriculture, advocating for the intentional inclusion of women and youth in the sector’s value chain to ensure long-term food security.

Maiha made this call on Wednesday during the Vanguard Economic Discourse held at the Civic Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The event, themed Food Security and Socioeconomic Stability: Options for Nigeria’s Agriculture Sector Rebound, focused on the necessity of integrating the younger generation and women into modern, climate-smart farming practices as a prerequisite for an agricultural renaissance.

According to the Minister, traditional farming methods have long served as a deterrent to the youth, making it imperative to rebrand agriculture through technology and research. He noted that academic institutions and farms must collaborate to serve as resource centres for students and National Youth Service Corps members.

“We must transform our farms into learning hubs where young people can engage with sustainable livestock management and modern genetic technologies,” Maiha said.

He further noted that new policies introduced by the Federal Government are set to grow the livestock sector from its current value of $32 billion to $74 billion within the next 10 years.

Special Guest and Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Senator Abubakar Kyari emphasised that the federal government is committed to a food systems transformation that prioritises mechanisation. Represented by Director of Engineering Engr Maruf Ajenifuja, Kyari explained that the ministry’s collaboration with global partners aims to create a more inclusive environment where private sector investment can flourish.

“Our strategy involves strengthening value chains and ensuring that women and youth have the necessary tools to participate in large-scale dry season farming,” Kyari stated.

Ajenifuja added that there are now visible signs of improvement, noting that the food prices of essential commodities have dropped by up to 50 percent for the first time in the last decade. He revealed that in January this year, food inflation dropped below 10 percent, specifically at 8.98 percent, while the National Agricultural Growth Scheme has supported over 622,000 farmers.

Keynote Speaker and United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, FAO, Resident Representative Dr Hussein Gadain argued that building resilient agri-food systems requires a mix of scientific expertise and field-based knowledge. Gadain warned that between 27.2 and 35.7 million people are experiencing acute food insecurity in 2025 and into August of 2026.

“Empowering the next generation of farmers through inclusive policy dialogue and disaster risk reduction is central to our mission in Nigeria,” Gadain noted.

Gadain further lamented the trade imbalance, stating that between 2016 and 2019, cumulative agricultural imports were estimated at about N3.35 trillion, which was roughly four times higher than agricultural exports of about N803 billion.

During the panel session moderated by Professor of Strategic Management and Governance at Lagos Business School Prof Franklin Nnaemeka Ngwu, Group Managing Director of Xtralarge Farms Dr Moji Davids shared her success in using digital technology to attract over 200,000 members to her farming community. Davids stressed that agriculture must be taught as a business to inspire passion among the youth.

“We must groom a generation of farmers who see agriculture not as a burden, but as a path to financial empowerment and health,” Davids said.

Country Director of the International Fund for Agricultural Development Mrs Dede Ahoefa Ekoue and President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria Hon Muhammad Magaji Gettado further reinforced the need for institutional reforms.

Ekoue disclosed that IFAD has invested approximately $1.8 billion in Nigeria, supporting over four million households. She and Gettado agreed that updating the agricultural curriculum to reflect current global trends is the only way to ensure Nigeria’s agriculture sector achieves a sustainable rebound.