Meet Young Nigerian Farmer Turning Farming into a Profitable Business

The concern about youth uptake of agriculture in Nigeria remains prevalent, despite the numerous interventions aimed at addressing this issue.

According to findings in this BusinessDay report, an average farmer in Nigeria is over 60 years old. The ageing population of farmers impacts their productivity, thirst for innovation, and affects the country's food production rate, which is under a serious food threat. 

Also, while there is a high rate of unemployment in the popular white collar job industry, many youths are still not open to agriculture. Several of them view agriculture as labour-intensive, unprofitable, and outdated. However, as the national concern that young Nigerians are turning away from agriculture remains, some youths are quietly rewriting that narrative with grit, purpose, and hands stained by the soil.

One of these youths is Chibuike Michael, a 27-year-old who walked away from city life to start his own farm with very little support and a personal conviction.

Despite the various challenges he faces as a new farmer, he is innovating his way to sustainability through food processing and agro value addition. For  Chibuike, farming isn't just a hustle; it's a calling. "This is my last bus stop,” he describes it with striking finality.

From Building Blocks to Farmlands

Chibuike Michael is a graduate of Building Technology at Yaba College of Technology in Lagos. However, his roots were always in the soil.

Being from a farming family in Ebonyi State, he grew up tilling the land and was once made Labour Prefect in school because of how naturally he handled farm work.

"I have been into farming for about 20 years," he recalled. "Even when people told me to study agriculture in school, I refused. I already knew the practical side, why go and learn just the theory?"

But in 2022, having graduated from school, he decided to take up a role with a farm company in Ogun State, not because he wanted a job, but because he had a vision.

"I just wanted to learn and leverage the experience to start something of my own," Chibuike said.

Unfortunately, the experience wasn’t as smooth as he expected, it came with micromanagement, toxicity and the full treats of an unfavourable working environment. He was initially hired as a farm manager, but the company soon turned him into a labourer.

"They gave us promises, but they didn’t mean them. I was exhausted mentally and physically. People started saying I looked older than my age," he explained.

Still, he stayed focused. When the company let him go in early 2023, he didn't crumble. It suited his plan just fine. He needed them to release him from his employment contract so he could start his own.

Farming with Nothing but Conviction

With no loan and no investor, Chibuike began his farming journey on a small scale. He leased a plot of land in Oreloko, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, and started farming part-time. One acre per season.

However, even securing land came with hurdles. He had to face the common land property acquisition challenge of fraudulent sellers and land grabbers. 

"Sometimes you pay for land, and then another family member comes and says they weren't aware. You pay twice for the same land," he lamented.

Input was another issue. Cassava stems, which were common in the area, were nearly impossible to get.

"Nobody would sell or give. It’s a village, so buying stems isn’t normal. No one was harvesting at the time I started, so I couldn’t get any," he revealed.

That first season in 2023, he planted only corn because it was what he could access. It wasn't until the second season, around August, that he managed to plant cassava. He kept improving from there, and now, he grows cassava, cocoyam, maize, and a few vegetables on his farm.

Managing Identity and Business Sustainability

As a farmer living between Lagos and rural Ogun State, Chibuike has gained profound insight into earning a living.  For example, he realised early that there was a stark contrast between farming's perception in different settings and what is key to maximising it as a business.

"In the city, some people think farmers are poor and dirty, but in the village, it’s just life; it’s how people survive," he said. 

He says some people still find his decision to go back to the 'village' and become a farmer strange. Yet, he isn’t derailed by these views as he is driven by purpose, to live on the honest earnings from his hard work on the farm.

"I’ve tried other things. This is what gives me peace. It’s my last bus stop," he said. "It’s not just manual labour. It’s business, it’s systems, it’s ownership."

As a business-oriented farmer, Chibuike’s goal has always been to close the gap between farm and market. That’s why he doesn’t just harvest crops; he tapped into agro-food processing and agribusiness power. He processes his cassava into garri and supplies it directly to local retailers. He also has a foodstuf shop in Lagos where he sells the food he produces from his farm.

His supply model is currently small, but strategic because, as a new farmer, he’s cautious not to overpromise and underdeliver, thereby affecting his business reputation.

"You can’t just market what you don’t have. You’ll end up disappointing people. So we’re building slowly, but intentionally," he said.

Chibuike’s forward and creative thinking freed him from the shackles of traditional farming stereotypes. He sees himself not just as a farmer but a businessman contributing to Nigeria’s food system.

Life Lessons from Farming

Running both a farm and a food business has taught him hard life lessons, especially about being hands-on, showing up, and taking responsibility.

"If you’re not present, things fall apart. Even if people are working for you, you need to be there. Until you’ve built proper systems, you can’t disappear. You must be responsible," he said 

Whether it’s watching over seedlings or checking on staff, farming is not passive. The same goes for shopkeeping. He also stresses the importance of accountability and constant checking.

"Farming isn’t just about planting and waiting. Every week, you check progress, watch for pests, and fix small issues before they become big," he added.

Farming is Long-term

Chibuike has no plans to quit farming. If anything, he wants to deepen his roots, expand his crops, grow his team, and hand off some of the oversight.

"I want to raise people who can work with me, not just for me. I want to step back a bit and focus on growth," he stated.

He’s also considering diversifying further, exploring value-added products, and increasing his presence in local food markets. "The future of agriculture is changing. If you don’t change with it, you’ll be left behind," he added.

Advising his fellow young Nigerians, he stressed the importance of being in it for the long run. "If you’re not in it for the long run, don’t start. Farming isn’t something you dip in and out of," he mentioned.

Chibuike believes young Nigerians need to stop seeing agriculture as Plan B. He encourages them to either go in fully or find someone serious and invest in them.

"Some people just want to make quick money. It doesn’t work here. If you won’t stick it out, don’t bother," he said.

Chibuike’s story may not come with glamour or big headlines, but it comes with something better: proof!  It shows that purpose matters; that you can start small; that there are young Nigerians who believe in the profitability of agriculture. And proof that these young Nigerians are making it, sustainably!

Know a farmer rewriting the rules like  Chibuike? Tag them or send their story to us at The Junction. We’re always spotlighting real people shaping Nigeria’s agricultural future.