Arzikin Noma Africa Partners with New Nigeria Festival 2026 to Champion Youth Participation in Agriculture

Putting youth, agritech and agricultural enterprise at the centre of Nigeria’s economic future.

Nigeria’s next chapter of economic growth will depend, in part, on how effectively the country turns its youthful population into a productive force. Agriculture has a significant role to play in that future, offering opportunities for entrepreneurship, job creation, innovation and stronger food systems.

This was the context for Arzikin Noma Africa’s partnership with the New Nigeria Festival 2026, held in Abuja on 6–7 October. The festival brought together leaders from government, business, technology, finance and other sectors to explore ideas and opportunities shaping Nigeria’s future.

As a proud festival sponsor, Arzikin Noma Africa contributed to conversations about the future of Nigerian agriculture, with its Group Managing Director and CEO, Adeoluwa Michael Adeshola, participating in the panel discussion, “Agritech Revolution: Driving Food Security & Economic Growth.”

Making Agriculture Work for Young Nigerians

For many young Nigerians, agriculture is still viewed primarily as physical farm labour. Yet the modern agricultural sector offers opportunities across technology, logistics, processing, commodity trading, mechanisation, agricultural finance and supply-chain management.

Unlocking these opportunities requires an ecosystem that makes agricultural enterprise commercially viable. Young people need more than encouragement to enter agriculture; they need access to finance, practical skills, markets, technology and business support that can help them build sustainable enterprises.

During the panel discussion, Arzikin Noma Africa’s GMD emphasised the importance of understanding the problem an enterprise seeks to solve, the people affected and why the solution matters. This perspective highlights a fundamental principle of agribusiness: sustainable impact begins with identifying real needs and building practical solutions around them.

For Nigeria, this means creating pathways for young people to participate across the agricultural value chain, from production and processing to technology, distribution and market development.

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Agritech, Food Security and Nigeria’s Economic Growth

Technology and innovation are changing how agricultural businesses operate, creating opportunities to improve productivity, strengthen market connections and make agricultural information more accessible.

However, technology delivers meaningful value when it addresses practical challenges faced by farmers and other value-chain participants. Digital tools must work alongside access to inputs, financing, extension services, reliable buyers and efficient post-harvest systems.

At Arzikin Noma Africa, this integrated approach informs the company’s work with smallholder farmers and agricultural markets. By supporting access to quality inputs, financing linkages, farmer training, grain aggregation and market access, the company contributes to building stronger agricultural value chains.

These connections matter for youth employment and entrepreneurship because a functioning agricultural ecosystem creates opportunities beyond the farm, supporting businesses and jobs throughout the food supply chain.

Building the New Nigeria Through Agriculture

The New Nigeria Festival provided a platform for examining the role of enterprise, innovation and collaboration in shaping the country's future. For Arzikin Noma Africa, the conversation connects directly to the need for a Nigerian agricultural sector that attracts investment, supports young entrepreneurs, strengthens food security and creates lasting economic value.

The company appreciates the New Nigeria Festival for bringing together stakeholders committed to Nigeria’s development and for creating space for important conversations about agriculture, youth empowerment and economic transformation.

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As Nigeria looks towards a more prosperous future, young people must have a meaningful place in building the agricultural economy. With the right support systems, agriculture can become a viable pathway to business ownership, skilled employment, innovation and national growth.

Arzikin Noma Africa remains committed to strengthening agricultural value chains and supporting the systems that enable farmers, agribusinesses and the next generation of agricultural entrepreneurs to thrive.

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