The Challenge
Over 60% of Sub-Saharan Africa is under 25years of age with a substantial number still within the secondary school age bracket. (FAO, 2021)
Despite agriculture’s critical role in Nigeria’s economy, employing up to 34% of the labour force, (ILO, 2025), Many young people perceive agriculture as labour-intensive, low-status, and less rewarding compared to “other modern” or corporate career paths; with agriculture rarely viewed as a first-choice career option (Boye,M et al, 2024). For instance:
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In Edo State, only 2.97% of secondary school students indicated willingness to study agriculture at the tertiary level (Tropical Agricultur – O.Osagie, 2025). In Ibadan, 50.5% of students preferred medicine, while just 4.6% were interested in agriculture (ResearchGate – OA Obayelu, 2019 ) |
This growing disconnect between young people’s aspirations and agricultural opportunities threatens the sustainability of food systems and future workforce development. It caused by:
- Poor perception: agriculture is seen as tedious, low-status, or an illiterate
- Lack of awareness of diverse agribusiness career paths beyond conventional farming.
Insufficient career guidance and practical exposure in schools.
The Solution
SOI Foundation designed the Young Agribusiness Club Initiative (YACI) as a solution to the negative perception of young people to Agriculture.
YACI, is a NextGen program designed to inspire, educate, and equip secondary school students with the right knowledge and skills to trigger their passion towards pursuing a career in Agribusiness.
The goal is to raise the next generation of Agropreneurs who will create rewarding and dignifying jobs for themselves and others across the various value chains and subsectors through an multidimensional ecosystem approach; rooted in industry insights and collaboration.
To learn more or partner – email: yaci@soifoundation.ng
To register your school: