Tony Elumelu Calls for Stronger Investment in Young African Agripreneurs at IFAD Governing Council
Chairman of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Tony Elumelu, has called on global leaders to prioritise investment in young African entrepreneurs as a pathway to sustainable development, food security, and economic growth across the continent.
Speaking at the 49th Governing Council of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in Rome, Elumelu addressed policymakers and stakeholders alongside IFAD President Álvaro Lario, moderator Melissa Bell, and a group of young agripreneurs. He highlighted Africa’s unique demographic advantage, noting that the continent is the youngest in the world, with 60 per cent of its population under the age of 25. By 2030, he said, an estimated 440 million young Africans will enter the labour market.
Elumelu stressed that agriculture remains central to Africa’s future, as 55 per cent of Africans live in rural areas. He described agriculture not only as a means of livelihood, but as a strategic resource that feeds cities, powers rural economies, and sustains communities. “We cannot grow Africa without power, and we cannot grow Africa without food,” he said.
According to Elumelu, investing in young entrepreneurs delivers far-reaching benefits beyond individual success, including job creation, poverty reduction, and stronger rural economies. He noted that youth migration is often driven by economic exclusion, and that inclusive growth through agriculture can help address the root causes.
He disclosed that 21 per cent of the 24,000 entrepreneurs empowered by the Tony Elumelu Foundation are engaged in agriculture and agribusiness. Collectively, these entrepreneurs have created more than 400,000 direct and indirect jobs, strengthening food systems, agricultural value chains, and rural livelihoods across Africa.
Elumelu concluded by emphasising that young Africans are not seeking handouts, but opportunities. “They are building Africa’s future,” he said, urging sustained global support for youth-led agribusiness and entrepreneurship on the continent.
Tony Elumelu Calls for Stronger Investment in Young African Agripreneurs at IFAD Governing Council