Nigeria’s Youth Propel New Agri-Tech Wave At Innovation Forum In Enugu

Young innovators, agripreneurs and key industry stakeholders, yesterday, gathered in Enugu for the Youth in Agri-Tech: Innovation to Wealth Creation Forum, a national initiative designed to accelerate technology adoption across Nigeria’s agricultural value chains.

The event, held at Hackathon Africalab, ECCIMA Complex, is part of the Research Innovation Systems for Africa – Knowledge Exchange & Cascaded Commercialisation (RISA–KECC) programme, delivered in partnership with the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS).

The forum aligns with ongoing national efforts to position agriculture as a technology-driven, youth-led sector capable of boosting food security and driving economic growth.

In his keynote address, Dr. Terseer Nyulaku stressed the urgency of integrating modern technology into Nigeria’s food systems.

He noted that meeting rising domestic consumption and staying competitive in regional markets will require improved processing, stronger post-harvest systems and wider adoption of research-led innovations.

He added that the RISA–KECC collaboration with NAERLS aims to equip young agripreneurs with capacity and extension support to transform traditional farming models.

RISA–KECC South Programme Coordinator, Teddy Eragba, outlined four pillars essential for scaling youth participation in agri-tech—digital visibility, youth-centric engagement, technical upskilling, and platforms that showcase innovation.

He encouraged participants to view agriculture as a globally competitive industry where creativity, data intelligence and market strategy are key to unlocking new opportunities.

On sustainability, agro-entrepreneur Alioke Anthony highlighted the economic and environmental value of zero-waste agriculture.

He explained that materials often discarded on farms can be converted into raw input for processing, driving cost efficiency and improving smallholder resilience amid rising production expenses.

Delivering a session on commodity value chains, Chineyere Oluchukwu underscored the export potential of Nigeria’s everyday crops from hibiscus (“red gold”) to bitter kola, ginger and cassava.

She stressed that value addition, quality packaging and market research can transform local produce into premium global products. Her advice to young entrepreneurs: start small, maintain high standards and innovate repeatedly.

Addressing access to finance, Adanma Chinyere, CEO of Spar Venture, highlighted persistent challenges facing agro-MSMEs, including poor documentation, weak structures and late submissions for funding opportunities.

She urged enterprises to strengthen administrative systems and remain alert to openings such as the Africa Agri-Food Development Programme (AADP) and the MassChallenge Sustainable Food Challenge, both offering expansion opportunities through 2026.

Agribusiness consultant, Kenneth Eze, provided insights on transitioning small and medium farms into commercially viable enterprises.

He emphasized demand-driven crop selection, rigorous market research and enhanced value addition, adding that transparency, consistency and traceable performance remain non-negotiable for attracting investors in an increasingly standards-driven global food market.

Leader, Enugu State Young Farmers Association, ENSYFA,Kenneth Eze.

The Enugu Agri-Tech Mashup is part of a broader national movement recognising young people as key drivers of Africa’s agricultural future.

As Nigeria works to cut food imports, strengthen food security and expand exports, the forum reinforced the message that technology, innovation and entrepreneurship are central to unlocking new wealth across the country’s agribusiness landscape.

Organisers say the initiative will continue across multiple regions, targeting the next generation of innovators poised to transform Nigerian agriculture into a modern, technology-enabled and globally competitive enterprise.