Agripreneurship: How Modern Farming Can Make Young Nigerians Wealth Creators
By Oodo Ihotu Joy
As Nigeria grapples with unemployment, food insecurity, and the urgent need to diversify its economy, agriculture is increasingly emerging as one of the sectors capable of reshaping the country’s future. Yet, unlike previous generations that viewed farming primarily as a means of subsistence, today’s opportunities lie in a more sophisticated and commercially driven agricultural ecosystem.
Globally, the relationship between young people and agriculture is changing. According to international labour data, 44 per cent of employed youth worldwide currently work within agrifood systems, a decline from 54 per cent in 2005. In advanced industrial economies, only about 23 per cent of young workers are engaged in agriculture-related activities, while the figure rises to 82 per cent in regions affected by prolonged crises. This shift underscores a broader trend: young people are gradually moving away from manual farming toward services and technology-based occupations.
Sub-Saharan Africa, however, remains heavily dependent on agriculture. As of 2025, nearly 143 million young people, representing 47 per cent of youth employment in the region, derive their livelihoods from agriculture and related activities. More than half of working youths across the region are still employed within the sector. Yet, the challenge lies not merely in attracting young people to agriculture, but in making it productive, profitable and dignified.
The situation mirrors developments elsewhere. In Asia and the Pacific, where agriculture still employs 39 per cent of the labour force, the average farmer is now above 50 years old as younger generations migrate to urban centres. In Latin America and the Caribbean, agriculture itself is evolving, with nearly 40 per cent of rural youth finding opportunities outside traditional farming through food processing, packaging, transportation, logistics and other value-chain activities.
Nigeria possesses enormous agricultural potential. Vast arable land, favourable climatic conditions and a rapidly growing population provide a strong foundation for food production and agribusiness development. Agriculture currently accounts for between 34 and 36 per cent of total employment in the country. Yet, despite youths constituting roughly 70 per cent of the population, they remain underrepresented in the sector.
Interestingly, many young Nigerians are involved in farming by circumstance rather than by choice. Recent studies indicate that although 41.7 per cent of youths participate in agricultural activities through family or rural livelihoods, only 21.5 per cent would willingly pursue farming as a career. More than half cite agriculture’s image problem, associating it with drudgery, poverty and low social status.
Such perceptions partly explain why the future of agriculture will depend less on the traditional hoe and cutlass and more on innovation and entrepreneurship. Increasingly, Nigerian youths are embracing mechanised farming, agro-processing, cash crop production and fintech-enabled agricultural services. This transition has contributed to agricultural GDP growth of about four per cent in 2025 and 2026, the highest level recorded in five years.
Modern agriculture extends far beyond cultivating crops. It encompasses livestock production, aquaculture, food processing, packaging, agricultural technology, logistics, marketing and value-chain development. Digital applications, precision farming, irrigation systems and mechanisation have transformed agriculture into a more efficient and commercially attractive enterprise capable of generating substantial returns.
Several government initiatives have sought to encourage youth participation through training programmes, extension services and policies aimed at improving food security and agricultural productivity. These interventions provide opportunities for young entrepreneurs to acquire relevant skills and establish sustainable businesses.
Nevertheless, structural obstacles continue to constrain the sector. Access to finance remains a major challenge, with high interest rates and lack of collateral discouraging investment. About 37 per cent of young agripreneurs cite poor road infrastructure as a significant factor reducing profitability, while inadequate storage facilities contribute to post-harvest losses estimated at between 13 and 20 per cent. Access to quality seeds, fertilisers and other inputs also remains limited, with less than three per cent of farmers enjoying easy access to such resources.
These constraints partly explain why the services sector is becoming increasingly attractive. According to the Mastercard Foundation Africa Youth Employment Outlook 2026, employment in services is projected to grow nearly twice as fast as agriculture. By 2033, services are expected to surpass agriculture by approximately 3.8 million jobs for young Africans, with average earnings in the services sector estimated to be 2.6 times higher than those in agriculture.
Yet this projection does not diminish agriculture’s importance. Rather, it highlights the need to reposition the sector as an integrated business ecosystem instead of viewing it solely as primary production. Agriculture’s future lies in agripreneurship, where technology, finance, processing, transportation, exports and digital platforms combine to create wealth and jobs.
Beyond individual prosperity, increased youth participation in agriculture carries broader national implications. Higher productivity can strengthen food security, reduce dependence on imports, stimulate rural development, generate employment and contribute significantly to economic growth. In a country seeking sustainable development and economic resilience, agriculture remains an indispensable pillar.
Numerous young Nigerians have already demonstrated that wealth can be created from the sector. Their successes prove that agriculture is no longer merely an occupation for survival but a competitive enterprise capable of delivering impressive returns when combined with innovation and sound business practices.
The challenge before Nigeria is therefore not simply persuading young people to farm, but creating an environment where agriculture becomes profitable, technologically driven and socially appealing. As the world moves away from subsistence farming, Nigerian youths must equally embrace a new era of agripreneurship.
The future of Nigeria’s economy may well depend not only on the resources beneath its soil but also on the ability of its young population to transform that soil into sustainable wealth.
Joy is a 200-level student of Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja.