In a keynote address delivered on behalf of Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, called for bold, strategic action to address the pressing financial barriers facing youth and women in Africa’s agribusiness sector.
Speaking at the African Development Bank (AfDB) High-Level Policy Dialogue themed “Bridging the Gap: Access to Finance & Empowering Youth and Women for Agribusiness Success”, Dr. Uzoka-Anite emphasized that unlocking agricultural potential across Africa requires deliberate efforts to foster inclusive economic growth, especially through accessible and affordable finance.
Her words: “We meet at a critical juncture—where the urgency to unlock Africa’s agricultural potential aligns with the imperative of fostering inclusive economic growth.
“At the heart of this intersection lies one clear necessity: bridging the gap—particularly in access to finance for youth and women to realise inclusive growth and shared prosperity.”
Highlighting the demographic landscape, Dr. Uzoka-Anite pointed out that over 70% of Nigerians are under 30, while women represent more than half of the agricultural labour force—yet both groups remain significantly underserved in terms of credit access, market integration, and capacity-building opportunities.
“Empowering youth and women is not an act of charity—it is a strategic investment in productivity, innovation, and national resilience,” she declared.
The address outlined several high-impact initiatives launched under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration aimed at closing financing gaps and boosting agribusiness productivity:
* National Credit Guarantee Company (NCGC): A groundbreaking institution designed to de-risk lending and improve credit flow to MSMEs, especially in agribusiness.
* Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI): Led by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in partnership with NALDA, the initiative targets 2 million women farmers with support for inputs, training, and climate-smart practices.
* ₦100 Billion National Agriculture Development Fund (NADF): Provides low-interest financing and subsidized inputs to increase agricultural productivity.
* Green Imperative Project with Brazil’s FGV: A \$1.2 billion partnership supporting agribusiness in all 774 LGAs, focusing on mechanization and inclusive financing, particularly for youth- and women-led enterprises.
* Bank of Agriculture Recapitalization: To provide affordable financing across the agricultural value chain—from production to distribution.
“In Nigeria, SMEs account for over 80% of employment and contribute more than 48% to GDP. These businesses—especially in agribusiness—are incubators of innovation and job creation,” she said.
Other landmark reforms mentioned included:
* The ₦200 billion Presidential Intervention Fund offering grants and single-digit loans to nano and micro businesses;
* The Investment and Securities Act signed in March 2025, recognizing digital assets and expanding financing options;
* Reforms to the National Agricultural Insurance Corporation, aimed at unlocking credit access through risk mitigation.
The minister’s remarks also celebrated Nigeria’s improving macroeconomic indicators as a strong foundation for deepening financial inclusion:
* Headline inflation down from 34.6% to 22.97% as of June 2025;
* Foreign exchange reserves nearing\$38 billion;
* Exchange rate unification reducing market premiums;
* Credit rating upgrades from Fitch and Moody’s, validating reform progress.
“These ‘green shoots’ provide a strong platform to deepen financial inclusion and accelerate investment in agriculture,” she noted.
Dr. Uzoka-Anite praised AfDB’s flagship initiatives like AFAWA (Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa) and the ENABLE Youth programme, calling for expanded collaboration to:
* Scale country-level interventions;
* Establish regional agribusiness financing hubs;
* Build logistics and digital infrastructure;
* Support value chain and micro-industry development.
“We must commit—not only to projects—but to building the enabling environment in which youth and women across Africa can grow food, build businesses, and create wealth with dignity and pride.
“This dialogue must be more than a forum—it must be a launchpad for action. With finance as the engine and youth and women at the wheel, Nigeria can cultivate an economy that feeds our people, employs our talent, and competes globally,” she affirmed.
Closing her address, Dr. Uzoka-Anite issued a powerful call to collective resolve: “Let us commit—not only to projects—but to building the enabling environment… Together, we can—and must—unlock the full potential of agribusiness as a lever for sustainable and inclusive development.
“Let us bridge the gap—and let us begin now.”
