Mr Lateef Olalekan Bello, an expert in agricultural and development economics, has called for the expansion of youth-in-agribusiness programmes in Nigeria after his recent study demonstrated that such interventions significantly reduce poverty and vulnerability to poverty among young Nigerians.

In a peer-reviewed article titled “Assessing the Impact of Youth-in-Agribusiness Program (YIAP) on Poverty and Vulnerability to Poverty in Nigeria”, published in Agriculture journal in 2022, Mr Bello and his team evaluated the effects of the YIAP on over 660 youths in Ondo and Ogun States using an endogenous switching probit regression model. The research was funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and facilitated by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). Mr Bello was one of the few young scholars in Africa who was awarded the grant after a rigorous process.

According to the research findings, young people who participated in the YIAP were not only less likely to be poor but also 28% less likely to fall into poverty in the future compared to non-participants. This, Mr Bello noted, highlights the role of agricultural interventions in curbing youth unemployment and stimulating rural economic growth.

“This study confirms that when youths are empowered through agribusiness training, access to capital, and technical support, they can break free from the poverty cycle,” Mr Bello stated. “But beyond individual success stories, this model has the potential to transform Nigeria’s food systems and rural communities.”

The YIAP, which includes programmes like FADAMA and the Ogun Women and Youth Empowerment Scheme (OGW-YES), provides young people with the tools to engage in agricultural production and processing. Participants receive business training and start-up capital to set up ventures in crop farming, animal husbandry, or food processing.

Despite these promising results, Mr Bello acknowledged gaps in access. The voluntary nature of participation and a lack of awareness limited the reach of the programme. His research identified factors like social capital (e.g., youth organisation membership), access to information, and demographic attributes as key to successful participation.

Mr Bello, who is a graduate research fellow with IITA, is about to complete his Doctoral degree in Economics at the University of Tokyo and holds multiple degrees, including an MSc in Agricultural Economics. He advocates for better programme targeting and awareness campaigns to reach a wider pool of youth across rural Nigeria.

The study also makes a critical distinction between current poverty and vulnerability to future poverty, arguing that intervention success should consider both. This approach, according to Mr Bello, will better guide policy formulation and resource allocation in the long term.

Importantly, the research methodology employed allowed for accurate impact estimation, even in the absence of a randomised control group. The endogenous switching probit regression model accounted for both observable and unobservable factors that could influence programme outcomes.

“Many of these young people are not just unemployed; they are underemployed or excluded from formal economic activities altogether. Agribusiness, when made attractive and viable, can bridge that gap,” he added.

Mr Bello also urged state governments and development agencies to invest in mentorship and peer-led initiatives. “Peer influence plays a big role. If youths see others succeeding in agriculture, it changes their mindset,” he said.

The paper, which forms part of a growing body of literature linking agriculture to youth empowerment, has already gained traction among scholars and practitioners in development. It complements Mr Bello’s broader research interests in climate-smart agriculture, rural livelihoods, and employment policy.

With Nigeria’s youth population projected to continue growing, Mr Bello believes the time is ripe for the country to reposition agriculture as a tool for economic resilience. “The challenge is not just about job creation, but creating meaningful livelihoods. YIAP is one example that shows this is possible,” he concluded.

As a recipient of the prestigious IFAD fellowship and several international research grants, Mr Bello’s voice carries weight in both academic and policy circles. His work offers a pathway to transforming Nigerian agriculture—by putting the future in the hands of the youth.