Nigeria is stepping up efforts to modernise agriculture and strengthen food security through greater investment in agricultural mechanisation, skills development and youth and women empowerment.

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has commended the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for launching the Agri360 Mechanisation Training Initiative, describing it as a strategic investment in the future of Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

The initiative was unveiled during a national colloquium on the role of women and youth in advancing agricultural mechanisation, held at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja.

Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima’s wife, Hajiya Nana Shettima, the First Lady said Agri360 will train 5,000 women and young people in agricultural mechanisation, digital agriculture, equipment operation and maintenance, entrepreneurship and agribusiness management.

Mechanisation to Improve Farm Productivity

According to Tinubu, agricultural mechanisation can help transform traditional farming by increasing productivity, reducing the physical demands of farm work and making agriculture more attractive to young Nigerians.

She noted that opportunities created by mechanisation extend beyond farming to areas such as machinery maintenance, agricultural processing, logistics, technology and other parts of the agricultural value chain.

Young Nigerians are also increasingly adopting technologies such as precision agriculture, artificial intelligence and drones, demonstrating the potential for technology-driven farming to become a major source of employment and business opportunities.

Greater Opportunities for Women in Agriculture

The First Lady also highlighted the importance of improving access to skills, equipment and business opportunities for women involved in agriculture.

She said empowering women to generate income and expand agricultural businesses can create wider benefits for households and communities.

The initiative therefore places women and youth at the centre of Nigeria’s efforts to build a more productive and commercially focused agricultural sector.

Agri360 Covers the Agricultural Value Chain

Agriculture and Food Security Minister Abubakar Kyari said mechanisation is critical to reducing the physical burden of farming while improving production efficiency.

He explained that the Agri360 initiative covers the agricultural process from land preparation through to value addition, with a focus on ensuring farmers have access to machinery and water.

The programme reflects the government’s broader effort to move Nigerian agriculture from traditional production towards a modern economic enterprise capable of improving farmer incomes, creating jobs and strengthening food security.

With increased mechanisation, digital technology and skills development, Nigeria is seeking to unlock the potential of its large agricultural workforce while making farming more productive and commercially sustainable.