Akinwumi Adesina
On Friday, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, advocated for youth investment in Nigeria’s agri-business sector.
Adesina made this call during his keynote address at the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa Primates and Wives’ Retreat in Abuja. He spoke on the topic “Food Security and Financial Sustainability in Africa: The Role of the Church.”
He emphasized the vital role of youth in transforming Nigeria’s agricultural sector, citing successful young entrepreneurs. Reflecting on his tenure as Minister of Agriculture, Adesina shared that his symbolic choice to wear a bowtie was part of his effort to make agriculture more appealing to young Nigerians. This was part of a broader strategy to rebrand agriculture as a viable career path for the youth.
Adesina urged religious and government leaders to support the AfDB’s Enable Youth in Agriculture program, a $490 million initiative aimed at fostering youth-led agri-businesses across Africa. The program has already supported 41,000 businesses and created 63,000 jobs, showcasing significant potential for economic growth.
Addressing the critical issue of youth migration from Africa, Adesina recounted his emotional visit to Goree Island in Senegal, a historic site of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. He drew parallels between the historical forced migration and the current perilous journeys taken by young Africans seeking better opportunities abroad.
“Africa’s future lies within the continent, where equitable growth and quality jobs can be created,” Adesina stated. He highlighted the need for new financial institutions like entrepreneurship investment banks to support young entrepreneurs. He criticized current financial systems that demand unrealistic requirements from young people, hindering their ability to secure funding and thrive.
Adesina also criticized superficial political empowerment programs and called for substantial investments in youth businesses and ideas to drive sustainable development. He noted the AfDB’s recent approvals, including $16 million for Liberia’s Entrepreneurship Investment Bank and $32 million for Ethiopia, reflecting the bank’s commitment to this vision.
He called for a concerted effort to empower Africa’s youth, ensuring their potential is harnessed to build a prosperous future for the continent.
Additionally, Most Rev. Jackson Ole Sapit, Vice Chairman of CAPA and Archbishop of Kenya, emphasized the importance of a unified African Church and resource mobilization. He advocated for African solutions to African problems rather than relying on Western prescriptions and highlighted the potential synergy between the AfDB and the church in mobilizing resources and communities for holistic transformation.
Sapit suggested leveraging local church gatherings as platforms for learning and knowledge sharing to drive meaningful change.
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