- By Faridat Salifu
Mr. Abubakar Gotomo, founder of Gotomo Farms and Wildlife Services, has called on Nigerian youths to embrace agro-business as a practical and profitable path to sustainable self-employment and long-term financial independence.
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday at his farm in Diko, Niger State, Gotomo emphasized that the agricultural sector remains one of the most accessible and scalable sectors for young Nigerians, especially graduates struggling to find white-collar jobs.
He said the time had come for young people to stop waiting for government employment and begin to build their future through agribusiness ventures that require relatively low capital and offer high returns when managed properly.
Gotomo stressed that modern agriculture, when guided by sustainability principles and good management practices, can compete with other sectors in terms of profitability, career satisfaction, and economic resilience.
He explained that common misperceptions about agriculture being a low-income, subsistence activity must be corrected, especially among educated youth, who he believes have the capacity to modernize the sector through innovation and enterprise.
According to Gotomo, young Nigerians must begin to see agriculture not as a last resort but as a business that can be strategically planned, efficiently executed, and scaled to create wealth and employment for others.
He shared his own experience with catfish farming as a practical example of how agro-business can deliver real financial results within a short period of time if run efficiently.
“Here at Gotomo Farm, we have 36 concrete fish ponds and more than 10 earthen ponds that we use for large-scale catfish production,” he said.
He explained that a single fish pond on the farm has the capacity to hold 2,500 catfish fingerlings, which—if properly fed and managed—can grow to table size within 100 to 120 days.
He further noted that three average-sized catfish usually weigh about one kilogram, although in some cases, two large ones can achieve that weight.
“At today’s conservative price, one kilogram of catfish sells for ₦2,000,” he said.
“So if you manage a single pond of 2,500 catfish to maturity, you could be walking away with a gross return of five million naira.”
“After removing feeding and operational costs, your net profit could easily reach two million naira.”
Gotomo pointed out that such an income—generated in less than four months—is enough to show that agro-business is a serious venture, not a fallback option.
He said graduates with basic planning skills and commitment to learning can enter the fish farming business and expand over time into other value-added areas.
Beyond fish farming, Gotomo emphasized that the agricultural sector offers multiple entry points across the value chain, from input supply to processing, packaging, transportation, marketing, and retail.
He urged graduates and youth corps members to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and take advantage of agribusiness opportunities rather than waiting years for uncertain job placements.
“Even if you are not on the farm directly, you can build a business around farm inputs, sales, logistics, or packaging,” he said.
“The agro-value chain is vast, and there is a role for everyone who is willing to think creatively and work hard.”
He called on NYSC members to use their post-service period to explore training opportunities in agriculture and agri-processing rather than waiting indefinitely for government jobs.
“You are a fresh graduate from NYSC don’t wait,” he said.
“As soon as you finish, go to the farm. The job is already there waiting for you.”
Gotomo also reflected on his personal decision to leave the civil service early in his career to pursue a more independent and self-driven livelihood.
He said the limitations of government work, where promotions are slow and often politicized, led him to seek fulfillment through business ownership and food production.
“In the civil service, you are limited by promotion,” he said.
“Your experience, qualifications, and ideas may not count for much unless you’re lobbying here and there.”
“I realized that to truly achieve my dreams, I needed to step out and build something of my own.”
He said food production offered a clear path forward, because food is always in demand and the market is always active.
“With food, you don’t need to convince people they must eat,” he said.
“If you produce quality food, you’ll always have a buyer.”
Gotomo noted that education should be a tool for independence and leadership, not just a ticket to employment under someone else.
He said many young Nigerians wrongly believe that graduation must lead to employment in the public or corporate sector, but he believes that education should inspire innovation and adventure.
“The fact that you graduate doesn’t mean you must go and be a servant to somebody,” he said.
“That degree is supposed to help you create something new, not just follow the crowd.”
Gotomo also drew attention to health and environmental concerns related to modern farming practices, particularly the overuse of chemicals, poor post-harvest handling, and food preservation methods that compromise food quality.
He said these challenges are part of the reason his farm is committed to using organic principles to grow food that is safe, healthy, and suitable for human consumption.
“At Gotomo Farm, we’ve adopted organic farming methods because we believe people deserve food that nourishes them, not food that harms them,” he said.
“We avoid chemical additives, preservatives, and excessive pesticide use because these things can damage the soil and endanger health.”
He said his team actively trains both employees and external trainees on the farm’s organic protocols and sustainable production methods.
“Our goal is to scale a food system that promotes health, environmental care, and long-term food security,” he said.
He emphasized that food security is not simply about availability, but also about safety, quality, and sustainability.
“Food security is not just about whether food is present on the shelf,” Gotomo said.
“It is also about what’s in that food, how it was grown, and whether it contributes to long-term well-being.”
He called on government agencies, development partners, and private investors to support youth-led agro-initiatives, especially those promoting organic farming and sustainable production systems.
Gotomo concluded by saying that Nigeria’s path to employment, food stability, and economic diversification depends on unlocking the power of agriculture and that young people must be at the forefront of that transformation.