Abuja:Nigerian youth are advocating for improved access to finance, markets, and post-harvest infrastructure to enhance their participation in the country’s food economy.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the call was made during the Youth Entrepreneurship for the Future of Food and Agriculture (YEFFA) Nigeria Youth Convening on Youth and Food Systems Transformation, held in Abuja. This event was organized by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation under the theme ‘From Dialogue to Action.’
YEFFA is a six-year initiative between AGRA and the Mastercard Foundation, aiming to engage 10 million young people and support 1.5 million in transitioning into dignified work, with a focus on including at least 50 percent young women. Dr. Rufus Idris, AGRA Nigeria’s Country Director, emphasized the need to provide today’s youth with leadership opportunities in the food system, noting that Nigeria’s farmers are aging while a significant portion of the population is young.
Dr. Ayodele Olaleye from the Mastercard Foundation highlighted the importance of involving youth in program design and leadership, advocating for initiatives that reflect their input and needs. He encouraged young participants to represent peers nationwide facing similar challenges.
Participants identified major barriers to youth agribusiness, including limited access to youth-friendly finance, markets, and infrastructure. Baliqees Salaudeen, an agripreneur, stressed the necessity of shared processing facilities to help young processors meet certified standards. Mr. Tobi Olanrewaju, an agribusiness leader, pointed out the issues of price volatility and inadequate financial support tailored to emerging agripreneurs. Ifeoluwa Tryphena of Slate Systems Lab Ltd. urged for better integration of agricultural data to assist financial and policy decisions, thereby reducing risks in the food value chain.