“We’re Making Farming More Sexy for Youths” — Tinubu Declares at Launch of Mechanisation Programme

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said his administration is committed to making agriculture more appealing to young Nigerians as part of efforts to transform the country into a global agricultural powerhouse. Speaking in Abuja on Monday during the launch of the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Programme, Tinubu said new reforms and international partnerships are being deployed to equip Nigerian youths with modern agricultural skills and tools that promote self-reliance.

“Farming can be modern, rewarding, and yes—more sexy for our young ones,” Tinubu said. “You don’t have to use 18th-century methods for 21st-century farming.”

At the launch, the president unveiled over 2,000 advanced tractors, 50 industrial-grade bulldozers for land preparation, 12 mobile workshops, and more than 9,000 specialised farming implements. He said the deployment of these tools would ease agricultural processes, boost productivity, create jobs, and attract younger generations into farming.

Tinubu explained that the programme is part of a broader strategy to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on seasonal farming and imported food by enabling year-round cultivation powered by technology. “Given our arable land and favourable climate, we must seize this opportunity to achieve full agricultural independence and food sovereignty,” he said.

The president also disclosed that the federal government is working with international partners, including Belarus, to train Nigerian youths in agricultural technology, machine operation, maintenance, and fabrication. “We have friends across the world helping us teach our youths how to do things, get off the street, and become self-sufficient through agriculture,” he added.

He urged beneficiaries of the programme to use the equipment responsibly. “To all stakeholders receiving this equipment, deploy with maximum efficiency. We will supervise you at various locations and hold you accountable. Let history record this day as the beginning of Nigeria’s agricultural renaissance,” he said.

Tinubu also commended the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for its role in addressing food insecurity and stabilising Nigeria’s food supply chain. Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Abdullahi, said the programme is the first of four initiatives mandated by the president and aims to raise the country’s mechanisation level from 0.27 horsepower per hectare to almost 2.5 horsepower per hectare — the global average. He added that this advancement would reduce drudgery in farming and could potentially double current yields.

“This is a quantum leap,” Abdullahi said. “Where we currently have two tons per hectare, this equipment can help farmers achieve up to four tons.”