FSSS Launches Initiative to Connect Nigerian Youth with Agribusiness Opportunities

News in Brief:

— The Foundation for Sustainable Smallholder Solutions has launched the GroundBreakers initiative to connect young Nigerians with opportunities in agribusiness, agritech and agricultural innovation.

— Speakers urged youths to focus on solving real agricultural challenges, highlighting opportunities in financing, market access, extension services, logistics and farmer data.

The Foundation for Sustainable Smallholder Solutions (FSSS) has launched the GroundBreakers initiative to connect young Nigerians with opportunities in agribusiness, agricultural technology and innovation.

The youth-focused platform was unveiled during activities marking the 2026 International Youth Day through the inaugural GroundBreakers Live 2026, a two-day virtual webinar themed Connecting Youth, Innovation, and the Future of Food.

The programme brought together young entrepreneurs, agritech founders, innovators and agriculture stakeholders to examine how technology and entrepreneurship can increase youth participation in Nigeria’s evolving food and agricultural systems.

Focus on Real Agricultural Problems

Speaking during a session on the future of food and technology, the Chief Executive Officer of Grabb Livestock, Aisha Rilwanu Sidi, urged young innovators to prioritise real problems faced by farmers rather than adopting technology for its own sake.

“Don’t just fall in love with the idea, fall in love with the problem,” she said, stressing the need for entrepreneurs to understand farmers’ realities before developing products and services.

Sidi cited Grabb Livestock’s transition from a web-based platform to a USSD solution after discovering that many rural farmers lacked the digital skills needed to use the original platform. She said the change helped the company increase its reach from about 2,000 farmers to more than 50,000.

The CEO, CTO, and Co-founder of Agrofount, Dayo Akinbami, also identified agricultural data as an area with significant potential, saying reliable farmer data could improve access to finance, strengthen decision-making and support innovation across the value chain.

Crop2Cash Co-founder, Seyi Alabi, highlighted opportunities beyond farming and production, including agricultural finance, market access, logistics, extension services and farmer data systems.

FSSS Launches Entrepreneurship Academy

FSSS also launched the Global Agri Entrepreneurship Academy (GAEA) to equip young Nigerians with practical knowledge and entrepreneurial skills for building sustainable agricultural businesses.

The foundation’s Brand and Communications Manager, Clinton Mena Inene, said GAEA would provide expert-led learning, mentorship, industry insights, practical resources and networking opportunities.

Executive Director Isaiah Gabriel said the initiatives reflected FSSS’s commitment to empowering young people to drive innovation across food systems.

FSSS said it plans to hold another GroundBreakers edition in 2027, with greater opportunities for participants to engage and collaborate physically.