TracTrac Targets 36,000 Youths with Mechanisation Initiative

News in Brief:

—TracTrac has launched a young people mechanisation initiative to train 36,000 young Nigerians in entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership.

—The company says the programme will help address Nigeria's shortage of tractor operators and technical mechanisation skills while creating employment opportunities.

TracTrac Mechanization Service Limited has unveiled the Young People in Mechanization (YPiM) initiative, a nationwide programme designed to equip thousands of young Nigerians with practical skills in agricultural mechanisation and prepare them for careers across the country's growing farm services industry.

The initiative was announced on Monday during a media briefing at the company's headquarters in Abuja. According to the Chief Executive Officer of TracTrac, Godson Ohuruogu, the programme seeks to tackle one of Nigeria's biggest agricultural workforce gaps, the shortage of skilled mechanisation operators and technicians.

He explained that YPiM is Nigeria's first youth-focused mechanisation movement and aims to build a new generation of leaders capable of driving agricultural transformation through technology and modern farming equipment.

Targeting 36,000 Young Nigerians

Ohuruogu said the initiative targets young Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 35, providing practical training, mentorship, entrepreneurship support, leadership development, innovation opportunities, and advocacy skills.

The company plans to engage about 36,000 young people across the country's 36 states over the next six months, introducing more young Nigerians to mechanisation and the business opportunities within the sector.

"Young people should not just observe the future of agriculture. They should lead it," Ohuruogu said.

He added that beyond operating tractors, participants would gain skills that enable them to build sustainable businesses while supporting Nigeria's food security goals.

Building Access to Mechanisation

TracTrac describes itself as a Nigerian-owned agricultural technology company that connects tractor owners, mechanisation service providers, financial institutions, and farmers through digital technology.

The company said its platform enables smallholder farmers to access affordable mechanisation services while creating income opportunities for equipment owners and service providers.

According to Ohuruogu, TracTrac has so far:

— Deployed more than 800 tractors across Nigeria.

— Supported over 500,000 farmers.

— Collaborated with more than 6,000 mechanisation service providers nationwide.

The company has also implemented several agricultural development programmes, including the Improving Smallholder Farmers' Access to Small-Scale Agricultural Mechanization Services (ISSAM) project supported by the Mastercard Foundation.

Through the programme, youth-led mechanisation service providers are trained and deployed to improve farmers' access to tractors and other mechanised services while promoting the inclusion of women and young people in agriculture.

Private Investment Needed to Close Tractor Gap

Ohuruogu argued that government efforts alone cannot supply the level of mechanisation Nigeria requires.

According to him, Nigeria currently has an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 tractors, whereas the country needs at least 250,000 tractors to support widespread mechanised agriculture.

Rather than relying solely on government intervention, he called for greater private-sector investment to expand the country's mechanisation ecosystem.

"We need to facilitate investment into the ecosystem so that we can unlock the results we are waiting for," he said.

He noted that TracTrac is working to attract four to five tractor assembly plants into Nigeria, a move he believes would significantly increase equipment availability while creating additional jobs throughout the agricultural value chain.

Mechanisation Offers Business Opportunities

Beyond improving farm productivity, Ohuruogu described mechanisation as a profitable investment opportunity.

He said a tractor purchased for around ₦20 million could generate substantial annual revenue through commercial hiring services before reaching the end of its economic lifespan.

According to him, many Nigerians remain unaware of the business opportunities available in agricultural mechanisation because the sector receives limited public attention.

He called on the media and other stakeholders to help raise awareness about mechanisation as both an agricultural solution and an investment opportunity.

Supporting National Mechanisation Policy

Beyond equipment deployment, TracTrac is also contributing to agricultural policy development.

The company is participating in the development of Nigeria's draft National Agricultural Mechanization Policy (NAMP), a proposed five-year framework aimed at expanding mechanisation through sustainable land development, private-sector investment, innovative financing, human capital development, and climate-smart agriculture.

The proposed policy also seeks to strengthen digital agriculture while creating a more inclusive and resilient mechanisation ecosystem.

With youth-focused training, expanding private investment, and stronger policy support, initiatives like YPiM could help address Nigeria's long-standing mechanisation gap while creating new employment opportunities for thousands of young people entering the agricultural sector.