On Monday, President Bola Tinubu made a bold prediction that farming will soon be “sexy” to youths.
He made that prediction while flagging off an agricultural mechanisation programme under his administration’s ‘renewed hope’ agenda.
- On Monday, President Bola Tinubu made a bold prediction that farming will soon be “sexy” to youths.
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However, the most pressing question is: Will this programme truly make farming “sexy” to a generation of youths who have mostly shown no interest in agriculture?
EKO HOT BLOG explores potential answers in this report.
A New Chapter in Nigerian Agriculture
At the launch ceremony in Abuja, President Tinubu described the mechanisation programme as a “bold decision” intended to modernise agriculture, empower young Nigerians, and ensure food security for all citizens. According to him, the government has procured over 2,000 advanced tractors, 50 industrial-grade land preparation bulldozers, 12 fully-equipped mobile workshops, and more than 9,000 specialised farming implements.
“These equipment, when deployed, will empower mechanisation and service providers, create job opportunities, make farming easy and more sexy to our young ones,” the president said. “You don’t have to use 18th century method for a 21st century agricultural farming.”
Tinubu added that the programme is a cornerstone of his administration’s strategy to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on seasonal rain-fed farming and encourage year-round cultivation.
Vision of a Global Agricultural Powerhouse
The president’s broader goal is to position Nigeria as a major global player in agriculture. “We envision Nigeria as a global agricultural powerhouse, supplying quality produce to international markets while ensuring every citizen has access to affordable nutrition food,” Tinubu declared.
He said the initiative represents more than just a boost to domestic food production. It is a step toward food sovereignty and national stability. To achieve this vision, the federal government is rolling out equipment across the country and calling on stakeholders to ensure their efficient deployment.
“The allocation of this equipment throughout the country will do a lot,” he noted. “To give our nation’s abundant arable land and favourable climate that we have, we must seize the opportunity to achieve complete agricultural independence and food sovereignty.”
Global Partnerships and Youth Empowerment
One of the unique elements of the programme is Nigeria’s international collaboration with countries like Belarus. Tinubu said the partnership would support youth empowerment through training in modern agriculture, machinery repair, and equipment fabrication.
“We have friends across the world. We have Belarus committed to a programme that will empower our youth, teach them how to do things, get them off the streets, empower them in technology, review mechanisation, empower them in machine repairs and fabrications,” he said.
By combining high-tech agricultural tools with hands-on technical training, the administration hopes to create a generation of young farmers equipped to modernise the sector and tap into its full economic potential.
The Challenge Ahead
While the programme’s rollout is ambitious, its impact will ultimately depend on whether it succeeds in changing entrenched perceptions of farming as a tedious and low-income activity. The president acknowledged the need for accountability, promising that the government will supervise the operation and hold beneficiaries responsible.
“Let history recall this day as the beginning of a Nigerian agricultural renaissance,” Tinubu said, “where modern technology meets our farmers’ legendary resilience to create unprecedented prosperity.”
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security was also commended for its efforts in “tackling the food crisis and ensuring stability.”
Will Youths Buy In?
The president’s belief that modern equipment and training will make farming attractive—“sexy”—to youths marks a new rhetorical approach to agricultural reform. Whether young Nigerians respond positively remains to be seen. But with equipment set for deployment and training on the way, the administration has put machinery behind its message.
FURTHER READING
Now, all eyes are on the fields—and the future.
Philip Ibitoye is a Special Correspondent with EKO HOT BLOG. Click here to find daily analysis and critical insight on trending issues in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria.
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