The Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Abubakar Adamu Dabban, on Thursday, emphasised the role of Nigerian youth in transforming the country’s agricultural sector through mechanisation, research, and innovation.
He also emphasised that young Nigerians are uniquely positioned to drive this transformation if provided with the right tools, opportunities, and platforms.
Dabban disclosed this in Abuja, at the maiden edition of the Agricultural Mechanisation Research to Commercialisation (R2C) Forum, where he underscored that youth engagement is central to Nigeria’s quest to modernise agriculture and improve productivity across the value chain.
The R2C initiative, developed in partnership with the Connection of Stakeholders in Agricultural Mechanisation (CONESAM), a RISA-led programme supported by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), aims to institutionalise collaboration among key stakeholders, including research institutions, fabricators, processors, and youth-led enterprises.
Dabban said, “This event is more than a gathering, it is a call to action. Nigeria’s agricultural sector holds immense promise, especially when powered by youthful energy, technology, and strategic collaboration.
“Our commitment is to co-create and align agricultural mechanisation technologies that bridge the persistent gap between research output and market-ready innovations,” he said.
Dabban explained that the forum serves as a springboard to “bridge the persistent gap between research outputs and market-ready innovations,” particularly in agricultural mechanisation. In this domain, Nigerian youth are poised to thrive if given the tools and platforms to participate actively.
In his remarks, the National Team Lead for the Research and Innovation Systems for Africa (RISA), Dr. Terseer Nyulaku, called for targeted investment and policy support to empower Nigerian youth through access to agricultural innovation and mechanisation platforms.
Nyulaku urged federal, state and local governments, as well as international development partners, to prioritise the funding of youth-led agricultural startups and mechanisation solutions.
He said: “Nigeria holds great potential, over 900,000 square kilometres of arable land and a bulging youth population. If we harness these strengths effectively, particularly by funding innovative ideas led by young people, we can spur sustainable economic development.
“Mechanisation reduces drudgery and that old-school image of agriculture. By focusing on local, cost-effective solutions, we create opportunities for young Nigerians not just in farming but across the entire agricultural value chain, from processing to storage to marketing.”
He stressed that youth are not only essential to boosting productivity but also to reshaping the perception of agriculture from a labour-intensive occupation to a tech-enabled, value-driven enterprise.