FG, UNESCO launch empowerment programme for Nigerians

The Federal Government has launched a large-scale agricultural empowerment programme in partnership with the UNESCO Read and Earn Federation (UNESCO REF), targeting 4.5 million Nigerians with climate-smart agribusiness training and financial support.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Food Security (SSAP-FS), Dr. Olasunmbo Ogundipe, announced the initiative on Tuesday in Abuja during a joint national news conference attended by key stakeholders, including the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA), Road Safety Officers’ Wives Association (ROSOWA), and the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development (MBNCWD).

Ogundipe said the programme is anchored on the UNESCO REF Strategic Intervention Programme Alpha, Category II Framework, with a strong focus on the Young Women in Agriculture (YWA) component. It aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals—particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 13 (Climate Action)—and forms part of Nigeria’s long-term commitment to the UN 2030 Agenda.

“Food security under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is not merely policy; it is a covenant with the Nigerian people,” she said. “The Presidency will broker the financial support required to ensure that millions of Nigerians benefit from this National Empowerment Programme. This is not just an agricultural intervention; it is a national security and empowerment strategy.”

The initiative will run in two major phases:

• Phase One: Financial support for 3 million Nigerians

• Phase Two: Support for 1.5 million additional beneficiaries

These participants form part of a broader 12 million Nigerians targeted under a national mobilisation campaign expected to run until 2030.

Ogundipe noted that the programme prioritises young women, youths across all six geopolitical zones, and civil servants nearing retirement—providing them with sustainable livelihood opportunities after public service.

Participants will receive intensive training in Hydroponic and Agro-Kenaf Enterprise Development, enabling them to adopt climate-smart agricultural methods. The initiative aims to build capacity for sustainable agribusinesses while reducing vulnerabilities linked to climate change.

According to Ogundipe, beneficiaries involved in the Kenaf value chain could earn a minimum of ₦400,000 every 12 weeks, creating a pathway to financial independence and wealth creation.

She added that the programme will stimulate inclusive economic growth, strengthen food sovereignty, and generate billions of naira across emerging agricultural value chains, catalysing thousands of locally owned agribusinesses nationwide.

The empowerment scheme is anchored in the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP) and aligns with the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda to advance sustainable agriculture and technological innovation.

Ogundipe called on federal and state agencies, private investors, development partners, philanthropists, and community organisations to collaborate in scaling the project.

“Together, we will empower millions, strengthen our food systems, and position Nigeria as a continental leader in agricultural innovation,” she said.

President of UNESCO REF, Abdulsalami Ladigbolu-Oranmiyan, described the programme as a globally recognised model that aligns with the UN 2030 Agenda and the African Union Agenda 2063.

“Above all, this initiative is designed to serve as an instrument of stability, prosperity, and hope for millions of Nigerians and, by extension, Africa,” he stated.

He added that UNESCO REF will ensure international visibility and long-term sustainability for the project, enhancing Nigeria’s leadership in global agricultural transformation.