Nigeria's Ogun State Trains 8,000 Youth Farmers Yearly

Young Nigerians are swapping job hunting for seed planting, thanks to an ambitious agricultural program in Ogun State that's redefining what farming can look like in 2024.

The state government is training 8,000 young people every year through its Youth Agricultural Programme, introducing them to high-tech greenhouse and hydroponics farming. These aren't your grandfather's fields—participants learn to grow crops without soil, use technology to maximize yields, and turn agriculture into a viable career path.

Commissioner for Agriculture Bolu Owotomo announced the initiative alongside a sweeping transformation of the state's farming sector. The government has invested in 40 tractors, 10 bulldozers, and harvesters to modernize food production across the region.

Solar-powered and petrol-powered pumping machines are now in the hands of farmers, making dry-season farming possible year-round. Storage warehouses, fish processing centers, and modern poultry facilities are sprouting up in farm settlements to reduce the massive food losses that have plagued the region.

The changes go beyond equipment. Digital platforms now connect farmers directly to markets, cutting out middlemen and putting more money in producers' pockets. International partnerships are bringing technical expertise and funding to support the transformation.

The Ripple Effect

When young people see farming as a tech-forward career instead of backbreaking labor, everything changes. These 8,000 annual graduates will return to their communities with skills in climate-smart agriculture and modern growing techniques, multiplying the program's impact far beyond Ogun State's borders.

The initiative addresses two of Nigeria's most pressing challenges at once: food security and youth unemployment. As graduates establish their own operations, they'll create jobs, stabilize food supplies, and prove that agriculture can compete with any urban career for ambitious young Nigerians.

Other states are watching closely as Ogun demonstrates what's possible when governments invest seriously in the next generation of farmers. The model combines infrastructure, training, and market access—three ingredients often missing from agricultural development programs.

Owotomo urged farmers across the state to take advantage of support programs, promising the government's continued commitment to agricultural growth and farmer welfare.

8,000 young people per year are learning that farming isn't about escaping poverty—it's about building prosperity.