“There are still numerous untapped opportunities [in
agriculture] for passionate young Africans.”
Says Ndidi Nwuneli.
Nigerian businesswoman Nwuneli believes that Africa’s
agriculture sector “presents unique opportunities for young African
leaders who want to serve as change agents on the continent.” Nwuneli
co-founded AACE Food Processing and Distribution Ltd. and is a
partner in Sahel Capital Partners in Nigeria.
According to the World Bank, agriculture is essential for sub-Saharan
Africa’s growth and for achieving the goal of halving poverty by 2015.
The sector employs 65 percent of Africa’s labor force and accounts for
32 percent of the region’s gross domestic product. Increased
agricultural production is expected to continue to support growth in
Africa’s economy, the bank reports.
Women’s advocate and agribusiness
specialist Ruth Oniang’o shares
Nwuneli’s belief that agriculture makes a
good career choice. “Young people have a
great opportunity to create jobs and to
contribute to feeding the continent in a
sustainable way. Agriculture is now great
business,” she said, citing growing global
focus on hunger and malnutrition.
Oniang’o founded the Rural Outreach
Programme in Kenya, an advocacy group
for women and youth in agriculture. She
is an honorary professor of nutrition at
the Great Lakes University of Kisumu,
Kenya; editor-in-chief of the African
Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development based in
Nairobi; and chair of the Sasakawa Africa Association, which focuses
on agricultural development in Ethiopia, Nigeria, Mali and Uganda.
The agricultural experts welcomed queries for advice for members of
the YALI Network.
Nwuneli says that she is “excited about the impact that young
Africans” might make through the leadership, partnership and
mentoring programs available through the YALI Network and the
Mandela Washington Fellowship program.
“I urge [YALI Network members] to use
the amazing exposure, training and
networks that you have gained through
YALI, coupled with your talents, time and
energy, to change our world for the better,”
Nwuneli said. “I pray that you will find
your life’s purpose early in life, and that
you will pursue it passionately, diligently
and ethically.”
Nwuneli urges African youth to consider
careers in agriculture as entrepreneurs or
employment with an agribusiness or in
public policymaking. For those considering
starting their own companies, “There are
still numerous untapped opportunities for
passionate young Africans who want to engage across the agricultural
value chain from inputs, to production, to post-harvest, storage,
logistics, processing, distribution, and information and
communications technology,” she says.
“If you are passionate and resilient, you will ultimately enjoy the
fruits of your labor,” she states.
”There are many multinational and indigenous companies and civil
society organizations in the agribusiness sector that are desperately
looking for hardworking and committed employees with strong ethical
values,” Nwuneli says.
“These companies are interested in hiring young Africans, regardless
of their education background or work experiences, provided they
have a strong interest in learning more about the agricultural sector
and taking on the challenges and opportunities that the sector
presents.”
In the area of policy, Nwuneli says, “there is still a strong need for
reforms in the agricultural sector within countries and across regions
in Africa. African youth who are passionate about policy reforms can
serve as advocates in the public sector, pushing for an enabling
environment for agribusinesses to thrive [and] necessary investment
in infrastructure.”
“The time for Africa is now,” Oniang’o adds.Yali
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