Tinubu: We’re making farming sexy for Nigerian youths

President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to repositioning Nigeria as a global agricultural powerhouse through aggressive mechanisation and youth-focused reforms.

Speaking at the launch of the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Programme in Abuja on Monday, Tinubu declared that farming must be made attractive, especially to young Nigerians, stating boldly, “We are making farming sexy.”

The president unveiled over 2,000 advanced tractors, 50 industrial-grade bulldozers, 12 fully equipped mobile workshops, and more than 9,000 specialised farming tools, which are to be deployed across Nigeria. According to him, the deployment will empower mechanisation service providers, create thousands of job opportunities, and make farming less laborious and more appealing to the younger generation.

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“You don’t have to use 18th-century methods for 21st-century agricultural demands,” Tinubu remarked, highlighting the need to embrace modern technology. He further explained that the government is working with international partners—such as Belarus—to equip Nigerian youths with skills in mechanised farming, machinery repair, and fabrication, fostering both economic independence and innovation.

President Tinubu outlined a vision of year-round cultivation to reduce Nigeria’s vulnerability to food shortages and seasonal gaps. With Nigeria’s vast arable land and favourable climate, he stressed the importance of seizing the opportunity to achieve food sovereignty and agricultural self-sufficiency.

He called on stakeholders and programme beneficiaries to deploy the equipment effectively. “We will supervise you; we will hold you accountable,” he said, urging responsible use that would translate into measurable gains for Nigeria’s food system. Tinubu added, “Let history record this day as the beginning of Nigeria’s agricultural renaissance where modern technology meets our farmers’ legendary resilience to create unprecedented prosperity.”

The President also commended the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for its proactive response to the nation’s food crisis and efforts to stabilize the agricultural economy. In his remarks, Minister of State for Agriculture, Aliyu Abdullahi, noted that the programme was the first of four initiatives mandated by the President to combat low mechanisation in Nigeria.

Abdullahi described the scheme as a landmark leap in mechanisation, revealing that Nigeria’s current mechanisation level of 0.27 horsepower per hectare is set to rise to nearly 2.5 horsepower per hectare—the global average. According to him, the new equipment will reduce drudgery among farmers and double productivity from two tonnes per hectare to four tonnes in many cases.

The Renewed Hope Mechanisation Programme is a key component of the administration’s broader effort to boost food production, increase agricultural exports, and reposition the sector as a driver of youth employment, innovation, and national development.