The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, says it has created over 90,000 employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for Nigerian youths, women, and persons with disabilities through the Innovative Youth in Agriculture (I-Youth) initiative over five years.

Launched in 2020, I-Youth equips young people aged 15–35 with technical, entrepreneurial, and business skills to establish agribusinesses or secure dignified employment within the agrifood system. The initiative was implemented in Kano, Kaduna, Lagos, Jigawa, and Adamawa states, with a strong focus on inclusion.

Speaking at the Phase I close-out ceremony, the Director-General of IITA and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa, Dr. Simeon Ehui, emphasised the importance of investing in youth for Africa’s future.

“I-Youth demonstrates what happens when vision, partnership, and opportunity converge. When young people are given skills, mentorship, and access to markets, they do not just seek jobs; they create them.”

Dr. Ehui attributed the success to the strong partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, state governments, private sector actors, training institutions, and community leaders. He noted that the collaboration led to the establishment of 36,053 youth-led agribusinesses, alongside the creation of agribusiness parks, innovation hubs, and cooperative clusters.

Also speaking, the Country Director of the Mastercard Foundation in Nigeria, Ms. Rosy Fynn, highlighted I-Youth’s contribution to the Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy.

“I-Youth has been a major contributor to our goal of enabling 10 million Nigerians to access dignified and fulfilling work. The numbers reached represent real lives transformed and stronger communities.”

She also commended the Start Them Early Programme (STEP), which enabled secondary school students and their families to establish over 5,900 home-grown agribusiness ventures.

Past participants of the programme also shared testimonies of impact. One of them, Olumide Garuba, from Lagos State credited I-Youth for helping him formalise his agribusiness and employ other youths, while Mariam Abass from Kaduna State described how the project empowered her to overcome gender barriers, rebuild her poultry business, and support other women in her community.

Panel discussions on inclusive agribusiness and scaling youth enterprises emphasised the need for improved access to finance, stronger market linkages, and sustained post-training support, particularly for women and persons with disabilities.

As Phase I concludes, stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining and scaling the most impactful elements of the I-Youth model. Lessons from Nigeria are already informing similar initiatives in Sierra Leone and Liberia, underscoring I-Youth’s growing regional influence.