By: Hon. Jamiu Kolawole Adebukanla

Youth Involvement in Agribusiness in Nigeria (Particularly the Southwest)

Farming should no longer be seen as optional—it is a necessity. Every person and household needs food, and Nigeria has the population and potential to meet that need. Unfortunately, we are not taking full advantage of our large population, especially in the agricultural sector.

Youths in Nigeria, particularly in the Southwest, must be actively involved in agribusiness. It’s not just about producing food; it’s about building a self-sustaining economy. However, the current system is failing because we continue to invest heavily in farming without fixing the critical issues around management, harvesting, and labor.

 *Key challenges include:* 

Labor shortages and high cost of hiring farmhands.

Lack of mechanization, making large-scale farming difficult.

Limited access to commercial farmland, especially in the Southwest.

Low youth participation due to lack of empowerment and infrastructure.

To move forward, every stakeholder—not just the government—must think outside the box. We need a national shift in mindset and policies. It is not enough to encourage farming; we must make agribusiness attractive, accessible, and profitable, especially for the educated youth.

 *Action Steps Needed* 

1. Increased government commitment and investment in agriculture, beyond just allocation—results-focused and measurable outcomes.

2. Establishment of modern farm settlements, specifically designed to attract and empower young agripreneurs.

3. Access to land and mechanized tools to reduce the burden of labor and increase productivity.

4. Incentives and funding for youth-led agribusiness ventures.

5. Collaboration between government, private sector, and academic institutions to create a sustainable agribusiness ecosystem.

We must get it right now if we want to secure our food future and economic independence. Youth engagement in agribusiness is not just a policy—it is a survival strategy.

Hon. Jamiu Kolawole Adebukanla (Parto)

AFAN Youth Coordinator, Ogun state. 

Chairman, More Agro Farmers, Ijebu Ode. 

MD/CEO Parto Farms and Agro Services Limited. 

Chairman House Committee on Agriculture 10th Legislative Council Ijebu Ode Local Government Ogun state Nigeria.