The Foundation for Sustainable Smallholder Solutions (FSSS) has connected thousands of young Nigerians with emerging opportunities in agribusiness, agricultural technology and innovation through its newly launched GroundBreakers initiative.

The youth-focused platform was unveiled as part of activities marking the 2026 International Youth Day, with the inaugural GroundBreakers Live 2026, a two-day virtual webinar held under the theme, “Connecting Youth, Innovation, and the Future of Food.”

The programme brought together young people, entrepreneurs, agritech founders, innovators and agriculture stakeholders to explore opportunities for youth participation in Nigeria’s evolving food and agricultural systems.

Speaking during a session on “Future of Food: How Technology is Transforming Agriculture,” Chief Executive Officer of Grabb Livestock, Aisha Rilwanu Sidi, urged young innovators to focus on solving real problems rather than simply adopting new technologies.

“Don’t just fall in love with the idea, fall in love with the problem,” she said, stressing the importance of understanding farmers’ realities before developing products and services for them.

Sidi cited the experience of Grabb Livestock, which transitioned from a web-based platform to a USSD solution after discovering that many rural farmers lacked the digital skills required to use the original platform.
According to her, the adjustment enabled the company to expand its reach from about 2,000 farmers to more than 50,000.

Also speaking during the session, the CEO, CTO and Co-founder of Agrofount, Dayo Akinbami, said Nigeria needed young people who could apply technology to address critical challenges confronting the agricultural sector.

“Nigeria doesn’t need technology for technology’s sake. We need young people who understand our problems deeply enough to use tech to solve them,” he said.

Akinbami identified agricultural data as another area with significant potential, noting that reliable farmer data could improve access to finance, strengthen decision-making and create new opportunities for innovation across the agricultural value chain.

On the second day of the programme, Co-founder of Crop2Cash, Seyi Alabi, challenged young Nigerians to rethink opportunities in agribusiness by looking beyond farming and production.

Alabi identified financing, market access, logistics, agricultural extension and farmer data systems as areas with significant opportunities for young entrepreneurs.

He described agricultural extension as a “dying sector”, citing the shortage of extension officers compared with the millions of farmers requiring advisory support.

He urged young innovators to develop scalable digital solutions capable of delivering agricultural knowledge and advisory services to farmers more efficiently.

As part of the International Youth Day activities, FSSS also launched the Global Agri Entrepreneurship Academy (GAEA), aimed at equipping young people with practical knowledge and entrepreneurial skills to build sustainable agricultural ventures.

The Brand and Communications Manager of FSSS, Clinton Mena Inene, described GAEA as a launchpad for young people seeking to transform innovative ideas into viable businesses.

“The Global Agri Entrepreneurship Academy is more than a learning platform. It is a launchpad for the next generation of agricultural innovators, entrepreneurs and changemakers,” Inene said.

He said the academy would provide expert-led learning sessions, mentorship, industry insights, practical resources and opportunities for young professionals to build networks around agricultural innovation.

The Executive Director of FSSS, Isaiah Gabriel, said the initiative reflected the organisation’s commitment to empowering young people to drive innovation across food systems.

“Young people are not just the future of agriculture; they are already shaping its future,” Gabriel said, adding that GAEA would provide young Nigerians with the tools, networks and opportunities required to create meaningful change.

Inene said FSSS plans to continue the GroundBreakers initiative, with another edition expected in 2027. He said the organisation hopes the next edition will provide even greater opportunities for participants to engage, collaborate and connect physically.

The launch comes amid growing concerns over food insecurity, climate change and limited access to finance, markets and agricultural advisory services.

FSSS said the challenges also present opportunities for young entrepreneurs to develop innovative solutions capable of improving agricultural productivity, strengthening resilience and creating sustainable livelihoods.

Through GroundBreakers and GAEA, the foundation said it seeks to build a new generation of agripreneurs equipped to develop profitable businesses while contributing to a more sustainable, inclusive and food-secure future.