KEY POINTS
- The “Earn from the Soil” initiative aims to make Nigeria a global agricultural export leader by 2025.
- Tinubu emphasizes South-South’s natural resources and human capacity as vital to the project’s success.
- Young people and women are encouraged to drive Nigeria’s agricultural revolution under the initiative.
President Bola Tinubu has declared Nigeria’s ambition to become a leading global agricultural exporter by 2025. The announcement was made during the inauguration of the “Earn from the Soil” initiative at the National Convergence for the Renewed Hope Agenda, held at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja.
Represented by Minister of Regional Development, Mr. Abubakar Momoh, Tinubu described the project as a game-changer for Nigeria’s agricultural sector. The initiative aims to shift the country from subsistence farming to an export-driven agricultural economy.
“This project symbolizes our commitment to transforming non-oil resources into collective prosperity,” Tinubu said. He also highlighted the government’s strategy of seeking strategic support from partners rather than traditional aid.
The President called on local and foreign investors to seize opportunities in Nigeria, especially in the South-South region, which he described as “open for business.”
Nigeria targets top spot in agricultural exports by 2025
With an ambitious vision for the agricultural sector, Tinubu pledged to position Nigeria as a leading agricultural export nation by 2025. This goal is part of a broader strategy to reduce reliance on oil revenue and bolster non-oil exports.
According to Tinubu, the “Earn from the Soil” initiative will unlock the potential of Nigeria’s agricultural sector, driving food security and economic growth. He urged Nigerian youth and women, particularly those in the South-South region, to take advantage of the initiative and become agents of change.
“Our young people and women in particular must embrace this opportunity to be self-reliant,” Tinubu said, emphasizing the vital role they will play in driving the country’s economic revolution.
According to Punch, the President also assured Nigerians that his administration would provide the necessary support to ensure the success of the project. “By 2025, we will position Nigeria as a leading agricultural export nation,” he declared.
South-South region set for economic transformation
The South-South region of Nigeria has been identified as a key player in the nation’s agricultural renaissance. During the event, Tinubu emphasized the region’s vast natural resources beyond oil and gas, as well as its extraordinary human capacity and talents.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, Gift Johnbull, described the convergence as a space for dialogue, innovation, and collaboration. “This is a call to action for every individual here to play a part in shaping the future of Nigeria,” she said.
Johnbull also called on investors and business leaders to recognize the South-South region as a hub of untapped potential, with the capacity to benefit not only Nigeria but Africa and the world at large.
The convergence reinforced the administration’s commitment to fostering unity, collaboration, and sustainable development across Nigeria.