He said this is important because the federal government is targeting to grow the Nigerian livestock industry from $32 billion to $74 billion by 2035.
The Minister who disclosed this on Tuesday at the grand finals of AYuTe Africa Challenge Nigeria 2025 held in Abuja, said the government has just approved the National Livestock Growth Strategy aimed at transforming the livestock industry.
The AYuTe Africa Challenge Nigeria is an initiative of Heifer International as an agribusiness innovation initiative designed to catalyse ground-up innovation that addresses challenges faced by smallholder farmers.
The minister said there are a lot of opportunities in the livestock sector which the youths can take advantage of.
He commended Heifer International for the initiative to help youths use technology to drive the growth of agriculture in Nigeria promising that his ministry was ready to support and collaborate with the organisation for the greater good of the country.
“These young minds are going to be fully involved in the implementation of that strategy,” the minister said.
Also speaking, the Country Director, Heifer International, Nigeria, Dr. Lekan Tobe, said the AYuTe Africa Challenge Nigeria is a platform for young agricbusiness entrepreneurs to pitch their brilliant business ideas on how they are using technology to transform agriculture and support smallholder farmers.
He said the participation has continued to increace each year. According to him, the organisation received over 1000 applications this year which it scaled down to 50 from where the five finalists were selected.
He said apart from the prize money which the winners receive, they are also mentored and helped to access financing and market for their business.
He also said that Heifer International will support the youths to take advantage of the opportunities promised by the Minister of Livestock Development.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi said for Nigeria to achieve food security, there’s need for collaboration between the government, the private sector and the development partners.
He commended the efforts of Heifer International in encouraging youth participation in agriculture through use of technology, adding that gone are the days when farming is left for the local farmers.
He promised that the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security will continue to support any initiative that will promote the attainment of food security in the country.
At the end of the competition, Seyi Alabi of Crop2Cash emerged the winner, with prize money of $20,000, whlie Aisha Rilwanu Sidi of Grabb 247 emerged first runner up and won $12,000 and Deborah Oigocho of Erido Agro was second Runner up and went home with $8,000.