₦1.5bn Boost for Oyo Youths: How 1,000 Young Agripreneurs Can Grow Through the FCMB–YEAP Scheme
Oyo State Government, in partnership with First City Monument Bank, has empowered 1,000 youths with ₦1.5 billion in collateral-free agribusiness loans under the YEAP-SAfER programme, a major step aimed at reducing unemployment, boosting food production, and helping youth-led businesses scale sustainably.
What the Oyo–FCMB Youth Agribusiness Programme Means
The initiative combines ₦500 million from the Oyo State Government and ₦1 billion from FCMB’s Easylift programme, supported by the Mastercard Foundation. The programme connects training, business support, and access to finance, giving young people a real path from learning agriculture to building profitable enterprises.
Beneficiaries in this phase received about ₦1.5 million each, with opportunities to scale up to ₦50 million based on business performance and repayment track record.
“This is about reinforcing a system. Sustainable development depends on deliberate structures that connect training with enterprise and access to finance.”- Governor Seyi Makinde
This shows that the programme is not just about sharing money, but about building long-term youth wealth through agriculture.
How to Be Part of the YEAP-SAfER Programme
If you want to benefit from future phases of this programme, here are the likely steps based on how the current beneficiaries were selected:
1) Get Agribusiness Training
Most beneficiaries first passed through state-sponsored agribusiness training, including practical exposure at farms and agribusiness hubs.
2) Register with OYSADA Youth Programmes
Follow updates from the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA) and youth empowerment channels for:
application forms
training announcements
screening exercises
business pitch opportunities
3) Start a Small Agribusiness
Having an active business in:
crop farming
poultry
fish farming
food processing
greenhouse farming
agricultural logistics
can improve your chances.
4) Build a Good Track Record
The programme rewards discipline. Beneficiaries who use the first funding well may qualify for:
₦3 million
₦5 million
up to ₦50 million expansion support
through partnerships with financing institutions.
Why This Matters for Nigerian Youths
This programme is a major opportunity because it helps youths:
fight unemployment
enter agriculture profitably
create jobs
improve food security
grow from small businesses to large enterprises
For young Nigerians, agribusiness is becoming one of the fastest paths to wealth creation and financial independence.
The Oyo–FCMB ₦1.5 billion youth agribusiness support scheme is one of the strongest empowerment opportunities in Nigeria right now. Young people interested in farming, food processing, and agricultural services should begin preparing by gaining skills, starting small, and watching for the next OYSADA application window.
