The Kwara State Government, in partnership with Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, has commenced maize production on a 3.5-hectare farmland as part of an initiative to promote youth empowerment, strengthen food security and support livestock development.

The project is being implemented under the Kwara Livestock Entrepreneurship Scheme, a state government initiative aimed at repositioning the livestock sector through structured youth engagement, innovation and sustainable enterprise development.

The scheme is also designed to address youth unemployment, strengthen food system resilience and promote climate adaptation by increasing young people's participation in agriculture and livestock-related enterprises.

The maize planting exercise, which commenced at the Faculty of Agriculture of Al-Hikmah University, marks the first phase of the programme. The maize produced will primarily be used as livestock feed, thereby linking crop production directly with the livestock value chain.

Speaking on the initiative, the Vice-Chancellor of Al-Hikmah University, Professor Lateef Oladimeji, said the partnership would expand the institution's agricultural activities while contributing to food production and food security in Kwara State.

Oladimeji added that the project would provide opportunities for agricultural innovation and enable the university to contribute further to addressing food production challenges in the state.

The Director of the Abdulraheem Oladimeji Centre for Entrepreneurship and Vocational Studies (AOCEVS), Dr Waheed Olanrewaju Salawdeen, said the initiative would expose students to practical agricultural experience and provide valuable learning opportunities.

He noted that the project aligned with the university's commitment to entrepreneurship, vocational training and self-reliance, adding that practical exposure would equip students with skills needed for enterprise development.

The Kwara State Government is implementing the scheme through the Ministries of Livestock Development and Agriculture in collaboration with Al-Hikmah University, particularly through AOCEVS and the Faculty of Agriculture at the Igbaja campus.

AdunGreen Foundation has also been engaged as the technical partner to strengthen the technical delivery of the programme.

The organisers said the tripartite partnership between the state government, the university and the technical partner was designed to promote sustainable youth empowerment and livestock enterprise development.

Representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture attended the flag-off exercise alongside the Vice-Chancellor and management team of Al-Hikmah University.

The initiative is expected to strengthen the agricultural value chain by connecting crop production with livestock development, while creating practical opportunities for young people to participate in agriculture and establish sustainable businesses.