Germany, EU, and Nigeria Launch €18.3m Project to Transform Agriculture and Create Jobs
The Federal Government of Nigeria, in partnership with Germany and the European Union, has officially launched the €18.3 million EU-VACE TARED Project, a four-year initiative designed to revolutionize the country’s agricultural sector. The project, running from October 2024 to September 2028, focuses on climate-smart practices, inclusive value chain development, and job creation across cocoa, dairy, tomato, and ginger production. Implementation will be led by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) alongside Nigeria’s Federal Ministries of Budget and National Planning, and Agriculture and Food Security.
Seven Nigerian states—Cross River, Kano, Kaduna, Kebbi, Ondo, Oyo, and Plateau—will serve as project hubs. Officials say the initiative aims to strengthen food security, encourage innovation, and provide economic opportunities for youth and women. Speaking at the launch, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security Aliyu Abdullahi emphasized the project’s alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes economic growth, job creation, and inclusive access to finance.
Abdullahi described EU-VACE TARED as a “transformative pathway” for tackling critical agricultural challenges, including post-harvest losses, climate risks, and limited financing for farmers. He also announced the formation of a project steering committee to ensure transparency, accountability, and measurable outcomes. Minister of Livestock Development Idi Maiha highlighted the importance of developing the dairy value chain, noting Nigeria currently spends $1.5 billion annually on dairy imports—a gap the project aims to address by building local industries and employment opportunities.
European Union Delegation Head Gautier Mignot underlined the project’s role in the EU’s Global Gateway strategy and Team Europe initiative, stressing the need to make agriculture attractive and viable for young Nigerians. “Our goal is to foster inclusive, climate-smart, and commercially viable agriculture that creates decent jobs, especially for youth and women,” Mignot said. He confirmed that the EU has invested over €87 million in Nigeria’s agriculture and climate-resilient programs, with a broader Team Europe pipeline nearing €1.5 billion in green economy initiatives.
Germany’s Deputy Head of Mission Johannes Lehne and GIZ’s Deputy Country Director Oladoyin Olawaiye emphasized the broader social impact of EU-VACE TARED. Both highlighted that the project goes beyond funding, aiming to empower communities, build resilience, and support smallholder farmers and MSMEs with skills, finance, and market access. Ultimately, the initiative seeks to position Nigeria’s agricultural sector as a driver of sustainable growth, inclusive development, and economic transformation.
source: punch