Abuja: Ms Rakiya Sadiq, a beneficiary of the Golden Morn Agripreneurship Programme by Nestle Nigeria PLC, is making strides in addressing food security and reducing hunger in Nigeria through her farm, Zulru Integrated Farms. A graduate of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Sadiq leads this integrated farm company located in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State, focusing on cultivating cereal crops and livestock.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the increasing food demand in Nigeria poses a significant challenge as rising prices exacerbate poverty. The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) highlighted this concern, while the Food and Agriculture Organisation projected that approximately 22 million Nigerians would face food insecurity in 2023, with numbers expected to rise to 26.5 million by 2024. Factors such as conflict, climate change, and inflation are key contributors to this alarming trend.
The Golden Morn Agripreneurship Webinar Series, a collaboration between the Golden Morn
brand and the Enterprise Development Centre of Pan Atlantic University, aims to promote sustainable food systems by engaging youth in agriculture. Supported by Nestle Nigeria Plc, the programme provides seed grants to young entrepreneurs aged 18 to 35 who are involved in the agricultural sector. In 2023, 25 agripreneurs benefited from seed funds of N500,000 to scale their businesses.
During the grant presentation, Mr Wassim Elhusseini, Managing Director and CEO of Nestlé Nigeria Plc, underscored the importance of youth involvement in agriculture for building sustainable food systems. He emphasized Nestlé’s commitment to equipping young people with skills needed for innovation in agriculture. Ifeanyichukwu Orabuche, Category and Marketing Manager of Golden Morn, noted the challenge posed by the aging population of Nigerian farmers and urged beneficiaries to focus on productivity and sustainability.
The collaboration between the Golden Morn programme and the Enterprise Development Centre has been impactful si
nce 2021, providing essential skills and knowledge to young agripreneurs. Obianuju Okafor, Project and Finance Manager at the Enterprise Development Centre, expressed the center’s commitment to empowering aspiring agripreneurs to contribute to the growth of the agricultural sector.
Agripreneurs like Sadiq and Chukwudi Imhokha, CEO of Azimhoc Ventures, Delta State, have benefited immensely from the programme. Sadiq credits the training and support from Nestlé’s Golden Morn for motivating her to continue her cereal crops business despite challenges. Imhokha highlighted the value of the training in business sustainability and profitability.
Addressing food security in Nigeria requires comprehensive approaches, including investment in young farmers, infrastructure, training, and innovative solutions. The Golden Morn Agripreneurship Programme, since its inception in 2021, has trained over 2,000 young individuals, making agriculture more attractive to youths and increasing their involvement in the sector, contrib
uting significantly to food security and wealth creation.