Oyo, ICMPD Unveil €2.4m Agricultural Initiative For 700 Youths

By Victoria Isaac

The Oyo State Government and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) have launched a €2.4 million Youth Empowerment and Reintegration Project (YERP) aimed at creating sustainable agricultural livelihoods for about 700 youths in the state.

‎Funded by the Government of Denmark, the initiative targets young people aged 18 to 35, particularly those in rural communities and returnee migrants from the South-West.

‎The project was formally launched on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, during the signing of the project agreement in Ibadan.

‎Speaking at the ceremony, the Oyo State Commissioner for Agriculture, Barr. Olasunkanmi Olaleye, described YERP as another step in Governor ‘Seyi Makinde’s agricultural development agenda, saying the intervention would address youth unemployment while supporting the sustainable reintegration of returnee migrants.

‎He said the project would also seek to reduce the attraction of irregular migration by creating viable economic opportunities for young people 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.”

‎Olaleye said beneficiaries would be engaged in productive agricultural activities and receive climate-smart agricultural training, cooperative development support, market linkages and other livelihood assistance.

‎He disclosed that the state government had 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.

‎According to him, the government would work with host communities, land donors, private-sector operators and development partners to provide beneficiaries with access to land, security, modern farming techniques, markets and other support required to establish sustainable livelihoods.

‎The commissioner stressed that the initiative goes beyond the provision of farmland, noting that it is designed to build sustainable livelihoods while generating evidence that could contribute to future policies on youth empowerment and migration management.

‎He added that the project would promote sustainable land management and contribute to the state’s food security efforts.

Olaleye said YERP complements existing agricultural interventions of the Makinde administration, including youth training, agribusiness development, mechanisation, climate-smart agriculture, digital soil testing, extension services and market-oriented programmes.

‎“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.”

‎The commissioner urged young people to explore opportunities across the agricultural value chain, noting that modern agriculture now encompasses production, processing, logistics, mechanisation, digital agriculture and marketing.

‎Also speaking, the ICMPD Portfolio Manager for the Pan-Africa Region, Marcello Giordani, described Nigeria as the organisation’s biggest and most important partner in Africa.

‎Giordani said YERP was particularly significant because of its potential to help young people build sustainable livelihoods through agriculture, adding that access to modern technology and the right conditions could enable beneficiaries to create better economic prospects for themselves.

‎“‎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.”

‎He expressed satisfaction with the cooperation received from the state government, saying the agreement signing demonstrated its 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.”

‎The project is expected to combine agricultural empowerment with reintegration support and research into the factors influencing youth unemployment and irregular migration. ICMPD describes YERP as an action-research initiative focused on rural youth unemployment, reintegration of returnees and rural development through climate-smart and sustainable agriculture.

‎The event was attended by 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.