Lagos: Hydroponic farming provides immense opportunities to meaningfully engage the youth, reduce unemployment and drive a positive change, an entrepreneur, Mr. Daniel Okpata, has said. Okpata, the Founder of Farmstead Hydroponic Farm, made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Okpata highlighted the worrisome level of global unemployment, emphasizing the need for collective efforts to address the issue. He encouraged youths to explore opportunities in agriculture and other sectors to combat unemployment. Okpata revealed plans to implement precision farming techniques by the first quarter of 2026 to advance his business, which would also create employment opportunities for skilled labor on his farm.
He explained that hydroponic farming is a soilless method that eliminates problems such as soil erosion, degradation, and soil-borne diseases. Okpata stated that the implementation of precision farming techniques would involve the acquisition of equipment requiring dedicated personnel to monitor plant moisture content, PH level, and nutrient content. This would lead to increased yields and the subsequent need for manpower in product sorting, packaging, and distribution.
Okpata mentioned the growth from 30 to 60 substrates to almost 400 substrates, which created job opportunities for artisans and salesmen. He noted that the entire supply chain, facilitating distribution across more than 100 families in three communities in Ojo/Amuwo-Odofin areas of Lagos State, benefitted from this growth.
He advised the youth to leverage emerging technologies to develop their potential and contribute to societal development. Okpata emphasized that Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers opportunities for groundbreaking inventions across various fields and urged proper harnessing of AI. He highlighted the penetration of Generative AI and agents in Nigeria, encouraging youth and IT stakeholders to explore these technologies.
Okpata, who is also the Founder of Citiflo Solutions, an app-based logistics solution, shared his approach to using entrepreneurial skills and tech knowledge to create solutions for unemployment. He called on other stakeholders to devise strategies to bridge the unemployment gap in Nigeria.
