Bauchi State gives N625m startup grants to 1,250 young people

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed has started giving out N625 million in startup grants to 1,250 young people and women. Mr Mohammed said the grants are meant to boost farming and agribusiness in all 20 local government areas of the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Governor Mohammed spoke during the official presentation of the grants at Tafawa Balewa on Tuesday. He revealed that each beneficiary will get N500,000 to start businesses in chosen areas of farming and agribusiness.

The governor said the goal is to fight unemployment, create wealth, and improve food security by getting more young people involved in farming.

Talking to the young people, who went through a two-week hands-on training in different groups, Mr Mohammed said, “You will recall that in 2021, this administration supported 1,000 youths and women from across the 20 local government areas.

“The youths went through intensive practical training at the International Skills Acquisition Centre of CSS Farms in crop production, livestock production, aquaculture, poultry, greenhouse technology, agribusiness management, value addition, and enterprise development.”

He said the training was fully funded by the Bauchi State government, covering tuition, transportation, accommodation, feeding, and other training costs. He added that after finishing the training, each participant got a startup pack worth about N450,000 to start their agribusiness.

Mr Mohammed explained that the success of the 2021 programme led to the start of the second phase, which began in 2025.

He stated, “Encouraged by these achievements, the government expanded the programme in 2025 to train another 1,250 youths and women from across the state in practical agriculture and agribusiness.

“I am happy to announce today the start of the payment of startup grants of N500,000 each to these 1,250 beneficiaries. This is an investment in productivity, business, job creation, and the future growth of our state. Use the funds wisely and make good choices.”

The governor urged the beneficiaries to use the grants carefully by starting sustainable agribusinesses that can create jobs and reduce unemployment.

He also encouraged them to contribute positively to food security and economic growth in Bauchi State and Nigeria.

Mr Mohammed instructed the state’s Ministry of Agriculture to ensure quick payment of the grants to beneficiaries. Some beneficiaries praised the initiative, calling it a life-changing opportunity.

One beneficiary, Maryam Ibrahim, who trained in poultry production, said the programme and the startup grant will greatly help create jobs in the state.

Another beneficiary, Mustapha Abdullahi, who was trained in feed production, promised to start a feed manufacturing business to supply quality livestock feed to farmers in the state and beyond.

During the event, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Ilyasu Gital, said the initiative shows Governor Mohammed’s commitment to empowering young people and women through farming while promoting food security and economic growth.

He said the programme builds on the success of an earlier intervention that trained and supported 1,000 youths and women, many of whom became business owners in different agricultural areas.

“The main aim of the starter pack and grant support is to help beneficiaries use the skills they learned during training to start successful businesses, become self-reliant, and create jobs in their communities,” he said.

The commissioner added that Governor Mohammed has approved an improved support package in response to current economic conditions to ensure beneficiaries get the most from the programme.

He described the initiative as more than just financial help, saying it is “a smart investment in human potential and rural growth across the 20 Local Government Areas of Bauchi State.”

According to Mr Gital, “By equipping young people and women with practical agribusiness skills and supporting them with starter packs and grants, this administration is building a new generation of modern farmers, processors, and agripreneurs who will drive value addition, market connections, and innovation in our agricultural system.”

The commissioner said the committee will ensure transparency and accountability during the payment process by screening beneficiaries and supervising payments at the local government level, where recipients will collect their cheques in person.

He named the committee members: the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Ibrahim Yusha’u, as Chairman; Director of Agricultural Services, Babaji Maijamaa; Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Ibrahim Ishaku; representatives of the Accountant-General and Auditor-General of Bauchi State; Training Officer, Yusuf Madiya; and Director of Administration and Human Resources, Shehu Yakubu, who will serve as Secretary.

Mr Gital said the committee’s terms of reference include: verifying the 1,250 trainees, sorting beneficiaries by their local government areas, conducting payments across the 20 LGAs, ensuring beneficiaries appear in person to receive their cheques, co-opting additional persons when needed, and submitting a complete report after the exercise.