ABT NEWS — In a major move aimed at revolutionizing national food production and driving youth entrepreneurship, the Federal Government of Nigeria has unveiled a massive agricultural intervention targetting 40 tertiary institutions across the country.
Under the newly launched Renewed Hope Tertiary Agricultural and Entrepreneurship Programme, each selected university, polytechnic, and college of education is set to receive between ₦1 billion and ₦2 billion in commercial farm financing.
Key Highlights of the Project
- Massive Land Cultivation Target: The initiative aims to transform over 500,000 hectares of underutilized institutional farmlands into high-yield commercial agricultural hubs.
- Institutional Mechanization: Participating institutions will receive modern machinery, including up to 10 tractor units per institution, to accelerate farm preparation and production efficiency.
- Financial & Strategic Partners: Spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Education under the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, the project is backed by the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), led by Managing Director Ayo Sotinrin, alongside interventions from TETFund and ministry capital allocations.
- Empowering Youths & Communities: Beyond boosting national food supplies, the project will create hands-on commercial farming and agribusiness jobs for students, unemployed graduates, alumni, staff, and host communities under expert academic supervision.
Key Program Drivers at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
| Total Target Land Area | 500,000 Hectares |
| Financing Amount | ₦1 Billion to ₦2 Billion per institution |
| Key Financing Body | Bank of Agriculture (BOA) |
| Primary Beneficiaries | 40 Tertiary Institutions (Universities & Polytechnics) |
| Core Goals | Commercial farming, food security, student entrepreneurship, and research commercialization |
Clarification on the List of Selected Tertiary Institutions
While the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, confirmed during the strategic meeting with the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) that 40 tertiary institutions have been selected across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones, the complete, itemized official breakdown of all 40 individual institution names has not yet been publicly released in full detail by the Federal Ministry of Education or the Bank of Agriculture.
The official roster of selected federal and state universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education is expected to be released as implementation agreements and land verification processes are completed across the participating zones.
By
