Oyo State and ICMPD launch €2.4m agricultural project for youth

The Oyo State government and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) have launched the Youth Empowerment and Reintegration Project (YERP). This €2.4 million initiative, funded by the Danish Government, is designed to empower 700 young people aged 18 to 35 through modern agriculture.

The project specifically targets rural youth and returnee migrants in South-West Nigeria to address unemployment, support sustainable reintegration, and curb irregular migration. Participants will receive access to farmland, climate-smart agricultural training, support for forming cooperatives, market linkages, and livelihood assistance.

To support the initiative, the state has secured 1,766 hectares of land in Ilero (Kajola LGA) and 50 hectares in Aawe (Afijio LGA). The program aims to transition agriculture from subsistence farming to a viable business model, incorporating mechanization, digital soil testing, and sustainable land management to bolster food security.