AGRA, Mastercard Foundation Launch YEFFA to Support 143,000 Nigerian Youth in Agribusiness

The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and the Mastercard Foundation have launched the Youth Entrepreneurship for the Future of Food and Agriculture (YEFFA) programme in Nigeria.

Agra is targeting 143,000 young people for employment and entrepreneurship opportunities across the agricultural value chain.

The initiative places particular emphasis on young women, who are expected to account for 70 per cent of the targeted beneficiaries. It aims to expand access to dignified and fulfilling work by strengthening youth participation in farming, agribusiness, food processing, trading and other areas of the agrifood economy.

The programme was introduced at a two-day gathering in Abuja on October 7 and 8, 2026, which brought together about 150 participants, including 100 young people, government representatives, private-sector stakeholders, and development partners, to discuss barriers to youth employment in agriculture and identify practical solutions.

According to MSME Africa, the Nigerian programme will operate in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and five states: Niger, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Ogun, and Oyo.

About the YEFFA Programme

YEFFA is a Pan-African partnership between AGRA and the Mastercard Foundation established to expand economic opportunities for young people, particularly young women, through more inclusive and sustainable food systems.

The wider partnership is designed to reach 10 million unemployed and underemployed young people across Africa and support 1.5 million in transitioning into dignified and fulfilling work. Its approach combines support for youth entrepreneurship with efforts to improve access to markets, finance, skills, technology and opportunities to participate in agricultural value chains.

In Nigeria, the initiative is expected to help young people overcome some of the challenges limiting their participation in agribusiness, including difficulties accessing affordable financing, reaching buyers, adopting digital tools and building sustainable agricultural enterprises.

Rather than treating agriculture solely as primary production, the programme recognises opportunities across the wider food economy, from farm services and processing to distribution, trade and other agribusiness activities.

Key Objectives of the Programme

The YEFFA initiative seeks to:

• Expand access to dignified and fulfilling work for young Nigerians across the agrifood sector.
• Increase the participation of young women in agriculture and agribusiness.
• Strengthen youth-led enterprises and entrepreneurship opportunities.
• Improve access to finance, markets, technology and business development support.
• Encourage innovation and sustainable practices across agricultural value chains.
• Promote youth participation in decisions and policies affecting the future of food and agriculture.

The programme also aims to strengthen the wider ecosystem supporting young agripreneurs, helping businesses become more competitive and better positioned to create sustainable livelihoods. <Cite refs={[“turn476545search1″,”turn476545search6”]}/>

Who Stands to Benefit?

The programme is designed to benefit young people seeking employment, self-employment and business opportunities within Nigeria’s agricultural and food systems.

Potential beneficiaries include:

• Young farmers: Individuals interested in agricultural production, improved farming methods and climate-smart agriculture.
• Aspiring agripreneurs: Young people looking to establish businesses in agriculture and food production.
• Agribusiness owners: Youth-led enterprises seeking improved market access, business skills and opportunities to expand.
• Food processors and traders: Young entrepreneurs operating in food processing, aggregation, distribution and agricultural trade.
• Young women: Women seeking greater access to resources, training and opportunities across agricultural value chains.
• Underserved young people: The broader YEFFA partnership also prioritises inclusion of disadvantaged youth, including people with disabilities and displaced populations.

The programme’s broader strategy is to improve access to dignified work for young people across different parts of the agrifood economy.

What Support Will Be Available?

YEFFA’s approach combines entrepreneurship development, capacity building and efforts to address barriers that prevent young people from building successful agricultural businesses.

Support areas under the wider partnership include:

Business and entrepreneurship development: Strengthening the skills and capabilities of young people seeking to establish or expand agribusinesses.

Access to markets: Improving connections between youth-led businesses, buyers, processors and agricultural value chains.

Financial inclusion: Addressing barriers that limit young entrepreneurs’ access to suitable financing and investment.

Skills and technology: Encouraging the adoption of modern agricultural techniques, digital tools and innovative business practices.

Policy and institutional support: Promoting stronger youth participation in decisions and systems that shape agricultural development.

Specific support packages, eligibility conditions and application procedures for individual activities in Nigeria will depend on the implementing partners and opportunities announced under the programme. The launch announcement does not establish a single, open application process for all 143,000 intended beneficiaries.

How to Participate

Young Nigerians interested in benefiting from YEFFA should monitor announcements from AGRA and its implementing partners for details of specific programmes, training opportunities, enterprise support and recruitment of participants.

Interested individuals can take the following steps:

1. Visit the official AGRA YEFFA programme website.
2. Review programme updates and information about activities in Nigeria.
3. Follow announcements concerning eligible participants, participating states and available support.
4. Prepare relevant business or personal information if a specific opportunity requires it.
5. Apply through the official channel provided for the particular activity when applications open.

Official programme website: https://agra.org/yeffa/

Important: YEFFA’s launch is not, by itself, an open call for individual applications. Prospective beneficiaries should wait for specific application announcements and verify eligibility, deadlines and benefits before submitting their details.

About AGRA and the Mastercard Foundation

AGRA is an African-led organisation working to improve agricultural productivity, smallholder farmer incomes and food security through agricultural innovation and partnerships.

The Mastercard Foundation is an independent philanthropic organisation that supports initiatives aimed at expanding access to education, financial inclusion and dignified employment for young people, particularly across Africa.

Through YEFFA, both organisations are working to strengthen inclusive food systems and make agriculture a more attractive and viable source of employment and entrepreneurship for Africa’s growing youth population.

The Nigerian launch represents a significant effort to position young people as active participants in agricultural transformation. By targeting 143,000 youth, with young women expected to make up 70 per cent of beneficiaries, the programme aims to widen economic opportunities and strengthen youth-led enterprise across Nigeria’s agrifood sector.