By Abdullahi Lukman
Nigeria has launched its first comprehensive report documenting the contributions of over 6,000 young people to the country’s food systems, marking a significant step toward youth-led agricultural transformation.
The report was unveiled at the inaugural Youth in Food Systems Convening held Wednesday in Abuja, themed: “Empowering the Future: Unleashing Youth Potential for Resilient and Sustainable Food Systems Transformation in Nigeria.”
The event was organized by the National Food Systems Task Team in collaboration with key stakeholders.
Azeez Salawu, National Youth Lead for the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) Nigeria, described the launch as a turning point, calling the report “a blueprint for action, a compass for investment, and a call for systems-level reform.”
He emphasized that it is Nigeria’s first large-scale effort to capture the roles, innovations, and challenges faced by youth in agriculture.
Findings reveal that over half of the surveyed youth are actively running agribusinesses.
However, access to land, finance, infrastructure, and markets remain key barriers.
The report also highlights youth innovation in areas such as climate-smart agriculture, digital technology, food processing, and supply chain development.
The report will be presented next week at the UNFSS Stocktaking Moment in Ethiopia, reinforcing Nigeria’s commitment to evidence-based youth engagement in food system reform.
Dr. Sanjo Faniran, National Convenor of UNFSS Nigeria, noted that with youth constituting 60% of Nigeria’s population, harnessing their potential is a national priority.
“This report shows they are not just participants, but trailblazers—from producers to marketers, innovators, and researchers,” he said.
Youth Representative Adekunle Adeoye, who presented the findings, explained the study covered individuals aged 15 to 45 and mapped their involvement across the agricultural value chain.
He stressed the need for tailored support programmes that reflect the diversity of youth-led agribusinesses and tackle existing barriers.
The report is expected to guide future investments, policies, and accountability as Nigeria prepares for the UNFSS+4 process.
