Dr. Simeon Ehui, Director General of IITA–CGIAR, has highlighted the vital role of youth in shaping the future of agriculture and ensuring global food security.
According to him, young people are essential for driving the adoption of innovative and sustainable farming practices that enhance productivity while protecting the environment.
Speaking on his behalf at the recent International Youth Day celebration in Ibadan, Dr. Tahirou Abdoulaye, Deputy Director-General for Partnerships for Delivery, explained that the event,organized by IITA’s Youth in Agribusiness Unit (IYA),carried the theme “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond.”
He noted that IITA established the IYA over a decade ago to acknowledge and support the critical contribution of youth to sustainable agriculture and long-term food security.
He emphasized that IITA, as a research and development organization, recognized early on the importance of empowering young people to scale its technologies and share innovations globally.
By doing so, youth are positioned to play a key role in advancing several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including eradicating poverty, ending hunger, promoting decent employment and economic growth, and addressing climate change. This understanding led to the evolution of IITA’s youth initiative into a broader movement.
He stressed the need to inspire more young people across Africa to see agriculture as a viable and sustainable career path.
He also expressed pride in the accomplishments of the Youth in Agribusiness Unit, which has supported the establishment of thousands of youth-led agribusinesses and helped generate employment for young people.
He reaffirmed that youth are essential drivers of the SDGs and agricultural transformation, warning that the future of agriculture would be at risk without their active involvement.
Adetola Adenmosun, the Partnership and Stakeholder Engagement Manager at IITA’s Youth in Agribusiness Unit (IYA), emphasized that International Youth Day serves as both a celebration and a reminder to young people of their critical role in driving positive change within their communities.
She shared that the IYA began with just 20 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, but has since grown significantly, reaching thousands of young farmers across multiple African countries. Adenmosun noted that several donor organizations have adopted the IYA model as an effective approach to youth engagement in agriculture.
She encouraged young people not to underestimate their ideas, stating that many successful businesses started on a small scale, and with a clear vision for growth, they can achieve great results.
The event featured a debate competition involving four teams of corps members who argued for and against two key topics: whether young women outperform their male counterparts in sustainable agribusiness and SDG attainment when given adequate support, and whether youth involvement in agribusiness offers a lasting solution to unemployment and supports the achievement of the SDGs.
The lively competition drew enthusiastic responses from the audience, and winning teams received farm inputs tailored to their preferred commodities, valued at several thousand naira.
One of the judges, Oludare Odusanya, General Manager of the BATN Foundation and one of the early participants in the IYA program, encouraged young people to explore the full spectrum of opportunities available in the agricultural sector.
He noted that agriculture offers profitable prospects not just in production, but also in areas such as processing, logistics, marketing, and branding.
Odusanya stressed that even without owning a farm, youth can still build successful careers in agriculture.
Other judges included Zainatou Sore, Head of IITA’s Capacity Development Office (CDO); Dr. Adebayo Adebola, Technology Transfer Officer at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI); and Dolapo Ogunsola, Director of Youth Empowerment at the African Agriculture Leadership Institute (AALI).
Sore reiterated the importance of youth tapping into the agricultural sector, especially given the enduring global relevance of food systems.
Ogunsola urged corps members not to overlook agriculture, describing it as a strong platform for launching careers in both entrepreneurship and formal employment.
She explained that AALI’s mission includes national advisory support, youth empowerment, and facilitating private sector collaboration to drive agricultural transformation across Africa.
During the event, several young farmers who had launched agribusiness ventures after participating in the IYA program shared their experiences.
They credited IITA’s training, mentoring, input support, and institutional guidance as instrumental in helping them start and expand their businesses.
They encouraged fellow youth to explore the vast opportunities in agribusiness.
