IITA, Mastercard Foundation create over 90,000 jobs for youths, women

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, has created over 90,000 employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for Nigerian youths, women, and persons with disabilities through the Innovative Youth in Agriculture (I-Youth) project.

Launched in 2020, I-Youth equips young people aged 15–35 with technical, entrepreneurial, and business skills to establish agribusinesses or secure dignified employment within the agrifood system.

The initiative was implemented in Kano, Kaduna, Lagos, Jigawa, and Adamawa states, with a strong focus on inclusion.

Speaking at the Phase I closeout ceremony, Director-General of IITA and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa, Dr Simeon Ehui, emphasized the importance of investing in the youth for Africa’s future.

“I-Youth demonstrates what happens when vision, partnership, and opportunity converge. When young people are given skills, mentorship, and access to markets, they do not just seek jobs; they create them,” he said.

Dr Ehui attributed the success to the strong partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, state governments, private sector actors, training institutions, and community leaders. He noted that the collaboration led to the establishment of 36,053 youth-led agribusinesses, alongside the creation of agribusiness parks, innovation hubs, and cooperative clusters.

Also speaking, Country Director of the Mastercard Foundation in Nigeria, Ms Rosy Fynn, highlighted I-Youth’s contribution to the Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy.

“I-Youth has been a major contributor to our goal of enabling 10 million Nigerians to access dignified and fulfilling work. The numbers reached represent real lives transformed and stronger communities,” Fynn stated.

She also commended the Start Them Early Program (STEP), which enabled secondary school students and their families to establish over 5,900 homegrown agribusiness ventures.

Past participants of the programme also shared testimonies of impacts. Olumide Garuba from Lagos State credited I-Youth with helping him formalize his agribusiness and employ other youths, while Mariam Abass from Kaduna State described how the project empowered her to overcome gender barriers, rebuild her poultry business, and support other women in her community.

Panel discussions on inclusive agribusiness and scaling youth enterprises emphasized the need for improved access to finance, stronger market linkages, and sustained post-training support, particularly for women and persons with disabilities.

Meanwhile, lessons from the project’s implementation in five Nigerian states are informing similar initiatives in Sierra Leone and Liberia, underscoring I-Youth’s growing regional influence.

As the Phase I concludes, stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining and scaling the impactful elements of the I-Youth model.

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