Abuja: The National Food Systems Task Team, in collaboration with key stakeholders, has unveiled Nigeria’s inaugural comprehensive report mapping the engagement of over 6,000 young individuals in the nation’s food systems. This landmark report was launched during the first-ever Youth in Food Systems Convening in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the event was themed ‘Empowering the Future: Unleashing Youth Potential for Resilient and Sustainable Food Systems Transformation in Nigeria.’ Mr. Azeez Salawu, the National Youth Lead for the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) Nigeria, described the launch as marking ‘the beginning of a new era defined by youth-led transformation of our food systems.’ Salawu emphasized that the report serves as a blueprint for action, a guide for investment, and a call for comprehensive reform. It aims to bring together diverse voices, highlight successes, celebrate excellence, and establish bold partnerships.
Salawu highlighted this report as Nigeria’s first large-scale effort to document the varied roles and contributions of young people within the country’s food systems. He noted, ‘Youth are leading across all segments, from production to policy, from innovation to investment. Over 50 percent of those surveyed are managing agribusiness ventures.’ However, challenges such as access to land, finance, storage infrastructure, and market linkages remain significant.
Furthermore, Salawu pointed out that Nigerian youth are pioneering innovations in climate-smart agriculture, digital platforms, processing technologies, and supply chains. He announced that next week, Nigeria will present this report at the UNFSS Stocktaking Moment in Ethiopia, signaling a commitment to youth empowerment backed by evidence-based programming, investment, and policy.
Dr. Sanjo Faniran, National Convenor of UNFSS Nigeria, remarked that the future of Nigeria’s food systems is intricately linked to its youth, who constitute 60 percent of the population. He asserted that unlocking youth potential transcends being a mere development priority and stands as a national imperative. Faniran highlighted that the report showcases youth not just as participants but as trailblazers across various roles within food systems.
Mr. Adekunle Adeoye, Youth Representative on the National Task Team, presented the report findings, indicating that the study focused on youths aged 15 to 45, assessing their engagement across the agricultural value chain. The study aimed to document youth-driven innovations, evaluate participation constraints, and inform inclusive and pragmatic policy responses. Adeoye emphasized that while national policies promote youth entrepreneurship in agriculture, there is a lack of empirical evidence regarding actual youth participation, which this report addresses.
He recommended developing support programs that reflect the diversity of agribusinesses and address existing barriers to facilitate the scaling of youth-led innovations.
