RismadarVoice Reporters
November 3, 2026
The Federal Government of Nigeria has unveiled plans to provide between ₦1 billion and ₦2 billion in agricultural financing to each of 40 tertiary institutions to establish commercial farms and strengthen food production across Nigeria.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed the initiative during a meeting with heads of selected institutions and officials of the Bank of Agriculture.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah, the programme will operate under the Renewed Hope Tertiary Agricultural and Entrepreneurship Programme.
Alausa said the initiative aims to mobilise more than 500,000 hectares of underutilised institutional land for commercial agriculture, research and enterprise development.
Participating universities, polytechnics and colleges of education are expected to provide approximately 1,000 hectares each, although institutions with smaller landholdings may qualify based on the viability of their proposals.
Under the proposed arrangement, each institution will establish a limited liability company to partner with the Bank of Agriculture in accessing financing, agricultural equipment and technical assistance.
The minister explained that the initiative would help institutions generate revenue, reduce dependence on government funding and provide practical agricultural training for students.
He said the Federal Ministry of Education had earmarked ₦20 billion in its capital budget to support 20 institutions, while previous Tertiary Education Trust Fund interventions had provided allocations for agricultural development.
Participating institutions are also expected to access tractors at reduced costs, alongside improved seedlings, irrigation equipment, fertilisers and other farming inputs.
Alausa said arrangements would be developed with produce aggregators to facilitate the purchase of harvests and reduce post-harvest losses.
The programme will also involve agricultural processing and related businesses, creating opportunities for students, graduates, lecturers, institutional workers and host communities.
The Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, Ayo Sotinrin, said the bank would support the initiative through financing and market linkages.
Similarly, the Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Professor Adamu Ahmed, welcomed the programme, citing the institution’s agricultural research capacity.
The Rector of Federal Polytechnic Oko, Dr Chioma Awuzie, also expressed support for the proposed initiative.
Although the programme could provide up to ₦80 billion in financing across the 40 institutions, the government has not announced that the entire amount has been disbursed.
Its implementation will depend on institutional participation, financing approvals, land availability and the commercial viability of proposed agricultural projects.
