About 700 youths in Oyo State are set to be empowered through the Youth Empowerment and Reintegration Project (YERP), a €2.4 million agricultural initiative jointly launched by the Oyo State Government and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD). The project is funded by the Government of Denmark and targets young people aged 18 to 35, particularly those in rural communities and returnee migrants from the South-West.
Speaking at the project agreement signing ceremony on Friday, the Oyo State Commissioner for Agriculture, Barr. Olasunkanmi Olaleye, described YERP as another milestone in Governor ‘Seyi Makinde’s agricultural development agenda.
He explained that the project is designed to tackle youth unemployment, support the sustainable reintegration of returnee migrants, curb irregular migration and stimulate rural economic development. According to him, YERP will engage 700 youths in productive agricultural livelihoods, improve their economic prospects and support innovation and modernisation in the sector.
Olaleye added that the initiative reflects the state government’s belief that agriculture is not only essential for food production but also a strategic tool for job creation, youth empowerment, rural development and economic resilience.
He noted that the ICMPD-led intervention will promote climate-smart and sustainable agriculture while creating viable economic opportunities for young people in rural communities. The project, he said, will help reduce the growing attraction of irregular migration by enabling youths to build sustainable livelihoods within their communities.
“YERP is an important intervention designed to support teeming youth, particularly rural young people and returnee migrants, by creating sustainable opportunities for them through agriculture and related economic activities,” he said. “The project aims to address rural youth unemployment, support the sustainable reintegration of returnee migrants, curb irregular migration and drive rural economic development through climate-smart and sustainable agriculture.”
The commissioner disclosed that the state government has secured 1,766 hectares of unencumbered farmland in Ilero, Kajola Local Government Area, and 50 hectares at the Rural Community Development Centre in Aawe, Afijio Local Government Area for the project.
He added that the government will work with relevant stakeholders, communities and development partners to ensure that beneficiaries have access to land, security, agricultural training, modern farming techniques, market opportunities and other support needed to establish sustainable livelihoods.
Olaleye emphasised that the project goes beyond allocating farmland, noting that it aims to develop sustainable livelihoods and generate evidence that could inform policies on youth empowerment and migration management.
He explained that beneficiaries will receive climate-smart agricultural training, support for cooperative development, market linkages and livelihood assistance. The state government’s responsibilities under the partnership include providing farmland, facilitating partnerships among host communities, land donors, the private sector and development partners, and supporting the tractorisation of the farmland.
According to him, YERP will also promote sustainable land management and contribute to the state’s efforts toward food security.
The commissioner noted that the project complements existing initiatives of the Makinde administration aimed at making agriculture attractive to young people as a business and career rather than merely subsistence farming. He highlighted ongoing programmes in youth training, agribusiness development, access to productive resources, climate-smart agriculture, mechanisation, digital soil testing, extension services and market-oriented interventions.
“YERP is therefore coming into an environment where a foundation for youth participation in agriculture already exists. What the partnership with ICMPD brings is an additional opportunity to extend these efforts to more rural young people and returnee migrants,” he added.
Olaleye urged young people to take advantage of emerging opportunities in the agricultural value chain, noting that modern agriculture has expanded beyond the traditional use of hoes and cutlasses. He said opportunities now exist in production, processing, logistics, digital agriculture, mechanisation, marketing and other areas of the value chain.
Also speaking, the ICMPD Portfolio Manager for the Pan-Africa Region, Marcello Giordani, said he was in Ibadan specifically because of the YERP partnership. He described Nigeria as ICMPD’s biggest and most important partner in Africa.
Giordani noted that while ICMPD has several projects in Nigeria, YERP stands out because of its potential to create meaningful opportunities for young people through agriculture.
“I really believe that this project could become an interesting opportunity for a number of young people from this area to explore their potential and create a positive change in their future by working in agriculture. With new technology and the right conditions to enable them to build their future and earn a living through agriculture, I believe this project could be of great help,” he said.
He expressed satisfaction with the cooperation received from the Oyo State Government, noting that the signing of the agreement during his second visit demonstrated the state’s commitment to the partnership.
“This really shows the commitment, ownership and the fact that the Oyo State Government is taking our partnership seriously. We are doing exactly the same on our side,” he said.
Present at the event were the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Abosede Owoeye; directors and senior officials of the ministry; and representatives of ICMPD, among others.
