Youth engagement in agriculture has increased in priority on the development agenda, as there is a growing concern worldwide that young people have become disenchanted with the agricultural sector. Because of this, O.O.K group, a leading agricultural producer in Nigeria, in collaboration with the IITA–CGIAR, organized its second annual symposium on redirecting youths and women to opportunities in the agribusiness industry.
The event, attended by the chief executive officers of many agricultural companies in western Nigeria, drew participants from registered youth clubs in the metropolis. The lead convener, Omolara Svenson, highlighted O.O.K’s conscious effort to redirect youth to agriculture and the firm belief that agriculture is not just a means to feed a nation but a catalyst for economic growth, poverty alleviation, and sustainable development.