Joseph Apeeliga, Technical Director of Accelerating Change Through InnoVation in Agricultural TVET (ACTIVATE), has emphasised the need for conscious efforts of African governments to invest in the youth to unlock the full economic potential of the content.
He said investing in practical skills development, positive mindset transformation and creation of opportunities for the youth were critical in unlocking Africa’s full capacity and driving sustainable development.
Mr Apeeliga, who said this in Wa during the opening of the second edition of the Agribusiness Festival (AgriFest 2025), observed that Africa had a youthful population, which could be harnessed for the continent’s transformation.
Mobile Business Clinic (MBC) Africa organised the event in partnership with Impact Investing Africa, Deal Source Africa and WUSC EUMC among others.
It sought to bring together key stakeholders to promote the growth of agribusinesses and contribute to food security in West Africa and beyond.
Hinged on the theme: “Human Capital: The Success Factor in Agribusiness”, brought together actors in the agricultural value chain including farmers, entrepreneurs, investors, academia, and coaches.
The two-day event, which presented a promising future for agribusiness in Africa featured panel discussions on critical topics in agribusiness including: “Skills development in Ghana; a gap between the demand and supply” and “Organisational culture: how to instill the culture of excellence in your organisation” and a pitch session for young agribusinesses.
“We live in an era of rapid change and agriculture is no exception, technology, evolving market demands and the increasing push for sustainability are reshaping the sector in ways we couldn’t have imagined just a decade ago.
“To ensure that our youth are ready for these changes, we must rethink how we educate and train them.
Whether it is in agribusiness, agritech, or sustainable farming practices, young people must be equipped with the skills that align with the demands of today’s market”, Mr Apeeliga explained.
Kuoro Abu Diaka Sukabe Ninia V, the Paramount Chief of the Zini Traditional Area in the Sissala West District, observed that creating a better agribusiness ecosystem in Ghana required stakeholder involvement and being proactive in the sector.
He added that a thriving agribusiness sector could help reduce the unemployment rate in the country, enhance economic fortunes and impact the lives and livelihoods of many families.
Speaking on the event’s theme, Kuoro Ninia said enhanced human capital was necessary for driving a productive agribusiness sector of the nation’s economy.
Miss Tenemba Anna Samaké, the Executive Director of MBC Africa, pointed out that, “human factor” within the agricultural and agribusiness sector partly influenced financial institutions’ reluctance in investing in that sector.
She said the human capital issues in that sector were critical to MBC Africa and that was what AgriFest 2025 sought to address through entrepreneurship conversation with the investors and government agencies.
Damata Issifu, a commercial farmer in the Sissala East Municipality, acknowledged the support of MBC Africa in her business growth.
She explained that events such as the AgriFest had enabled her to create a network of dedicated actors in the agricultural sector, which provided her with the technical and strategic guidance she needed to build and scale up her business.
Miss Issifu, a basic schoolteacher, currently had about 1,500 acres (600 hectares) of farm with over 300 direct and indirect employees.