The Youth Farmers Organisation for Agricultural Development in Nigeria has applauded Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, for his “visionary leadership and patriotic commitment” to Nigeria’s economic and agricultural transformation.
Speaking at the 1st National Food Security Summit 2025 in Abuja, the National President of YFOADN, Abdulrahman Umar Etudaye, described Dangote’s contributions as “a cornerstone of Nigeria’s industrial rebirth.”
According to him, the Dangote Refinery represents a “national asset — a beacon of hope and a catalyst for job creation,” which symbolises what is achievable when vision meets determination.
Etudaye urged Nigerians — including policymakers and citizens — to “safeguard and support” the refinery as a mark of national progress and pride.
He disclosed that the organisation recently embarked on a strategic working visit to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, describing it as an “eye-opening experience” that reaffirmed faith in Nigeria’s potential for greatness.
The youth leader announced that the group would soon commence a grassroots sensitisation campaign across the six geopolitical zones to promote youth empowerment in agriculture and educate Nigerians on the value of national assets such as the Dangote Refinery and Fertiliser Plant.
“Our message is clear: agriculture remains the most sustainable path to Nigeria’s prosperity beyond oil,” he stated.
Etudaye further expressed gratitude to Dangote Industries Limited and its Vice President, Mr Devakumar Edwin, for supporting youth empowerment initiatives, especially the Youth Rice Farmer Project in Kogi State, which trained 50 young Nigerians in modern rice production.
He said the success of the project, implemented in collaboration with the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority, had inspired greater agricultural innovation among youths.
The YFOADN president also unveiled the Youth in Agriculture Programme (YIAP) and the Youth Empowerment Farm Project, to be executed across tertiary institutions in partnership with the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and government agencies.
Etudaye commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for prioritising agricultural mechanisation and youth inclusion, noting that his administration’s reforms had rekindled optimism for a food-secure future.
He equally praised the Ministers of Agriculture and Livestock Development, as well as the National Assembly Committees on Agriculture, for their policy alignment and legislative support.
“The 1st National Food Security Summit is not just a dialogue,” he concluded. “It is a movement for transformation — to cultivate hope, empower our youth, and secure Nigeria’s future through sustainable agriculture.”
