Femi Adesina: Agriculture Is More Than Food—It’s Nigeria’s Next Wealth Engine

“Agriculture is not just about food, it’s about wealth creation.” With these words, Femi Adesina, Nigeria’s former presidential spokesperson and respected policy voice, highlighted a truth that is increasingly shaping conversations about Nigeria’s economic future.

For too long, agriculture has been viewed mainly as a subsistence activity, a way to keep families fed and rural communities sustained. But experts say the sector is far bigger than that. Agriculture, if strategically harnessed, can create millionaires, drive industrial growth, and secure Nigeria’s place in the global food and agribusiness market.

Agriculture as an Enterprise

Adesina’s remarks reflect a broader shift: agriculture is now being framed as a value chain—from production and processing to logistics, branding, and distribution. Each stage holds opportunities not only for farmers but also for entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators.

Here are the key wealth-creation levers in agriculture:

• High-Value Production: Moving from low-yield crops to premium commodities in strong demand.
• Value Addition: Turning raw produce into processed goods with higher market value.
• Agribusiness Services: Logistics, packaging, cold storage, and digital advisory platforms are emerging as profitable ventures.
• Technology Integration: AgTech solutions are redefining farming, from mobile advisory apps to drone monitoring.
• Branding and Marketing: Smart packaging and branding now matter as much as quality, especially for global exports.

Expert Voices: Why This Matters Now

Industry stakeholders say Adesina’s words are timely, especially as Nigeria struggles to diversify its economy away from oil.

A senior official at the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), explained that agriculture’s transformation into business will also expand Nigeria’s tax base:

“When agropreneurs move into processing, packaging, and exports, they create formal businesses that contribute to government revenue. That’s how agriculture transitions from survival farming into a real economic engine.”

Mrs. Omolara Ogunbiyi, Head of Agribusiness at a leading Nigerian bank, added that the financial sector is already shifting focus:

“We are seeing more demand for agric loans, not just from farmers, but from logistics startups, packaging companies, and tech-driven agro platforms. Youth are beginning to understand that you don’t need to own farmland to play in agriculture.”

For small business owners, the story is also changing.
Chika Nwafor, a young cassava processor in Abia State, shared her experience:

“I used to sell raw cassava for little profit. But after I invested in processing equipment, I now produce starch and flour that sell at better prices. My business employs 12 people. Agriculture is no longer just farming, it’s manufacturing.”

Youth at the Center

Nigeria’s youth population—over 60% of its people, remains critical to this transformation. Observers say young Nigerians must move beyond outdated images of farming as labor-intensive and embrace it as a field for technologists, marketers, and business developers.

Oluwatomiwa Adebayo, co-founder of an AgTech startup in Lagos, noted:

“With mobile platforms, data-driven insights, and e-commerce, young people can build agric ventures that reach customers nationwide. The days of farming with cutlasses are fading. Agriculture now belongs to innovators.”

Nigeria has flirted with agricultural transformation before. In 2016, amid recession, policies like the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme aimed to boost production. Gains were recorded in rice and poultry farming, but inconsistent policies, weak infrastructure, and access to finance limited the sector’s full potential.

Adesina’s call in 2025 reflects a sharper focus: agriculture must now be private-sector driven, technology-enabled, and youth-powered.

The Road Ahead

Platforms like AgropreneurNIG are stepping into this space, offering mentorship, digital resources, and business insights to guide aspiring agropreneurs. Analysts believe that with the right mindset, the sector could add billions of naira to Nigeria’s GDP while addressing unemployment and food security challenges.

As Adesina emphasized, the future of agriculture will not be shaped by farmers alone but by those who see beyond cultivation and step into enterprise.