The Leventis Foundation Nigeria (LFN) has trained 90 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in agribusiness through its schools across the country. This was disclosed by the Foundation’s Executive Director, Hope Usieta, during the third edition of the Agricultural Youths Summit held in Abuja, organised in collaboration with NYSC.

Usieta noted that 40 corps members have completed the training, while 50 are currently undergoing the programme. He commended the partnership between LFN and NYSC’s Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Department (SAED) for expanding opportunities for Nigerian youths.

“Leventis Foundation is committed to sustainable agriculture and youth development, training young Nigerians and farmers across six centres in various aspects of agriculture and agribusiness,” Usieta said. He added that despite ongoing interventions in the sector, challenges remain—particularly limited access to agricultural finance for smallholder farmers, which is critical for boosting productivity and ensuring food security.

Speaking at the event, NYSC Director-General Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, represented by Director, Ventures Management, Abe Dankaro, urged Nigerian youths to embrace agribusiness as a solution to youth unemployment and food insecurity.

“Agriculture presents huge opportunities for innovation, job creation, and national development—especially when driven by the energy and creativity of young Nigerians,” he said. He described the LFN-NYSC partnership as instrumental in building a new generation of “agripreneurs”, equipped for both farming and entrepreneurship.

LFN Chairman Ahmed Manti also highlighted the importance of improved access to agricultural financing to support smallholder farmers and scale youth-led agribusinesses. He added that strengthening investment in agriculture is vital for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and fostering national economic growth.

The summit aims to enhance the agricultural ecosystem, inspire innovation, and empower youths to become self-reliant, job-creating nation builders.