Youth Agripreneurship: A Driver for Sustainable Economic Development in Nigeria
Abstract
This review examines the role of governmental agricultural policies and programs, and targeted interventions in fostering youth agripreneurship as a driver for sustainable economic development in Nigeria. Accordingly, the paper analyzes the effectiveness of existing programs, policies, and institutional frameworks designed to support young people's engagement in the agricultural sector. Therefore, having identified and reviewed the best practices, gaps, and areas for improvement in policy design and implementation, it was however noticed that some key areas such as access to finance, land access, skills development, market access, and technology transfer need to be refocused. Hence, it concludes by offering specific policy recommendations to strengthen the enabling environment for youth agripreneurship and maximize its contribution to Nigeria's sustainable economic development, among others.
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Introduction
The current global economic crisis has forced many nations, including Nigeria, to consider unconventional approaches to economic diversification. Population growth, climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and violent conflicts are some of the main causes of this economic crisis (Iwuagwu, 2021). Because the world is committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations by 2030, especially goals 1 and 2 (reducing poverty and hunger) and the eighth goal, which points to sustainable economic development, the trend of economic diversification has therefore been a major source of concern among these countries. Nigeria, one of the most troubled economies in the world, has been rocked by its over-reliance on oil as a monoculture; therefore, a strong economic diversification plan is essential, according to Donatus et al. (2019). According to Isukul et al. (2019), human capital development is crucial for substantial economic diversification in a country like Nigeria.
Before gaining independence, Nigeria's economy was based on agriculture and had a strong GDP and foreign exchange, being the most populous black country in the world and the most densely populated country in Africa. When oil was discovered in the early 1970s, however, the nation ignored its thriving agricultural industry because of some political machinations (Onuka, 2017). Given that it is an agrarian country with about 85 million hectares of arable land, only less than 10% of which is under cultivation (NBS, 2015), Nigeria has the capacity to feed itself and export the excess for foreign exchange, but it still imports a lot of food (Ajekwe & Ibiamke, 2020). Nevertheless, despite the ongoing neglect, the sector is especially well-known for providing jobs, foreign exchange, and raw materials for industries, as well as meeting the nation's growing population needs without needlessly relying on the importation of necessities (Jamal et al., 2018).
Conclusion
The paper concludes that, considering the position occupied by the youth in our immediate societies and the role they can play for the economic development of the nation if empowered, youth agripreneurship will not just be looked at as a mere solution to youth unemployment; but a strategic pathway to building a resilient and diversified economy in Nigeria. Therefore, empowering young people to become innovators and leaders in the agricultural sector can help the nation to address her critical challenges such as food insecurity, poverty, and climate change, among others.
However, sustainable economic development hinges on the ability to create an ecosystem that supports youth agripreneurs, fostering innovation, promoting sustainable practices, and ensuring equitable access to resources. Moving forward, a collaborative approach involving government, private sector, academia, and civil society is essential to cultivate a thriving youth-driven agricultural sector that contributes to Nigeria's long-term prosperity and sustainable development goals—a quest for all the members of the United Nations.
References
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