Author: Adewale Kupoluyi

In an era where digital communication shapes opinions, careers, and economic opportunities, social media have become one of the most influential tools among young people in Nigeria. From entertainment to entrepreneurship, platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and X (Twitter) now play a central role in how youths interact with the world around them. Yet, one critical area where its potential remains largely untapped is agriculture. Despite agriculture being a major contributor to Nigeria’s economy, youth participation in the sector remains relatively low. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, a significant proportion of Nigerian youths are either unemployed or underemployed, highlighting the urgent need…

The Federal Government has declared that the era of exporting raw shea nuts while importing finished products must come to an end. The government said this position is backed by a bold domestic policy push that has already upended the country’s shea trade in the past eight months. The Minister of State for Industry, John Enoh, made the assertion when he delivered Nigeria’s address at the ‘Shea 2026: Beyond Borders’ conference in Accra, Ghana. The Technical Assistant to the President on Agriculture in the Office of the Vice President and Head of the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit, Marion Moon, revealed details of the engagement in…

Akara is one of Nigeria’s most beloved traditional foods, crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside, and packed with flavour. Whether eaten as a quick breakfast, paired with pap (ogi), or enjoyed as a street snack, akara has remained a timeless staple across generations. What is akara? Akara is a deep-fried bean cake made from peeled black-eyed peas blended with pepper, onions, and spices. The mixture is whipped to incorporate air, then fried into golden balls that are light, yet satisfying. Though simple in ingredients, akara requires technique to achieve its signature texture. The cultural significance of akara Akara is…

In an attempt at protecting Nigeria’s fragile food system from climate shocks, Leadway Assurance, in partnership with the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit, and PULA has disbursed N396.7 million in insurance claims to smallholder farmers across four states The pay-out, unveiled at the 2025 Wet Season Insurance Pay-out Ceremony under the National Agribusiness Planning Mechanism, held in Abuja, benefited farmers in Plateau, Borno, Kaduna and Taraba states that suffered losses linked to erratic weather and other climate-related risks. A breakdown of the N396.7 million insurance payout showed that farmers in Borno State received the largest share of N127.19 million, followed by Taraba State with N154.31…

The Federal Government is targeting a near doubling of its livestock industry to US$74 billion over the next decade as part of broader efforts to transform agriculture, improve food security, and stabilise the economy. The plan, outlined at the ninth edition of the Vanguard Economic Discourse, held at the Civic Centre, Lagos, forms part of a national strategy to reposition agriculture as a driver of growth amid rising food inflation and deepening hunger. Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, his Special Adviser, Eustace Iyayi, said the government had developed a 10-pillar livestock transformation plan aimed at expanding the…

The Bank of Industry and the Raw Materials Research and Development Council have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural value chain and drive economic growth. According to a statement, the agreement, aims to enhance value addition across key agricultural commodities and raw materials while addressing bottlenecks in production, processing, and distribution. Both institutions said the partnership followed extensive engagements and would tackle challenges across harvesting, post-harvest losses, seedlings, cultivation, storage, processing, packaging, logistics, and marketing. The initiative also aligns with efforts to reduce post-harvest losses, promote import substitution, improve Gross Domestic Product, create jobs, and boost entrepreneurship and industrial capacity. To drive…

Despite growth projections in the global cocoa and coffee sectors, African farmers said they are facing worsening economic conditions, warning that the industry’s expansion is masking a deep and persistent crisis at the production level. The Cocoa and Coffee Farmers Alliance Association of Africa (COCEFAAA) has equally called for urgent global intervention, arguing that farmers across West, East, and Central Africa are bearing the brunt of extreme price volatility, even as global markets surge toward historic valuations. In a statement by the Global President, COCEFAAA, Adeola Adegoke, the cocoa and coffee industries are entering a period of strong long-term growth, noting that…

Some local farmers have decried the increased importation of rice, a situation they claim, is crippling Nigeria’s local production. The farmers disclosed this in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos. NAN reports that local rice production has declined since the Federal Government’s import duty waiver on rice and other essential commodities in 2024. The Acting Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Lagos State, and a rice farmer, Mr. Shakin Agbayewa said local farmers had been suffering since the increase in rice importation. “With the renewal of the import waiver on rice and other essential commodities,…

To tackle food insecurity and rural unemployment, the National Agricultural Land Development Authority has commissioned a 5,000-hectare farm estate in Ora, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, with projections to directly and indirectly impact about 10,000 livelihoods. Speaking during the launch of the project, the Executive Secretary of NALDA, Cornelius Adebayo, said the initiative forms part of a broader national strategy under the administration of President Bola Tinubu to boost food production, create jobs, and curb insecurity through agriculture. Adebayo explained that the farm estate model, which clusters farmers within a secured and structured environment, is designed to enhance productivity while addressing…

Unemployment continues to be a major concern for young people in Nigeria, with many graduates struggling to find stable and rewarding jobs. At the same time, agriculture remains one of the most promising, yet underutilised sectors in the country. The integration of technology into agriculture is a game-changer that can significantly transform youth participation and make farming more attractive, profitable, and sustainable. Agriculture, which some people see as a labour-intensive and an outdated profession, is now evolving due to technological advancements. Tools such as drones, mobile applications, and smart farming systems are redefining how farming is done, making it more efficient and…