Today, I spoke to global leaders International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) 49th Governing Council in Rome, alongside President Alvaro Lario, moderator Melissa Bell and inspiring young agripreneurs.
Africa is the youngest continent in the world: 60 per cent of our population is under the age of 25. By 2030, 440 million young Africans will enter the labour market.
At the same time, 55 per cent of Africans live in rural areas. This means agriculture is not just a livelihood — it is a strategic resource that feeds our towns and cities, powers rural economies, and sustains communities. We cannot grow Africa without power, and we cannot grow Africa without food.
When we invest in young entrepreneurs, we do not just support individuals — we strengthen communities, reduce poverty, create jobs, and enable rural economies to grow from within.
Youth migration is often a symptom of economic exclusion. That is why, at the Tony Elumelu Foundation, 21 per cent of the 24,000 entrepreneurs we have empowered operate in agriculture and agribusiness. Together, these entrepreneurs have created over 400,000 direct and indirect jobs, strengthening food systems, value chains and rural livelihoods — clear proof of the potential of agriculture to uplift communities across Africa.
Young African are not waiting for handouts. They are building Africa’s future.
Click here to be the first to receive updates about my blog.
