The Sahel Scholars’ Conference, an annual conference organized by Sahel and African Food Changemakers primarily targeted at university undergraduates and youth in general, held virtually on Thursday, August 15th, 2024. This year’s conference themed – Nourishing Tomorrow: Youth-Driven Solutions for Sustainable Food Security, featured speakers who are trailblazers & pioneers in the food and agriculture sector from Nigeria, Benin Republic, Kenya, South Africa, Rwanda and Senegal. Some of the speakers at this year’s conference include: The Honorable Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Mr. Ayodele Olwande, Father Godfrey Nzamujo (Founder & Director, Songhai Centre), Farmer Samson Ogbole (Team Lead, Soiles Farm Lab), Chantelle de Bruyn (CEO, Buttercup Farmhouse), Tosin Ojo, (Partner, Sahel Capital), Patrick Tognisso (COO, myAgro), Jacinta Mwende Mwau (Country Manager, Eastern African Grain Council, Kenya), Joyce Okoro (M&E Coordinator, Extension Africa), Dr. Mathias Ekedo (Lecturer, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture) and Dr. Beatrice Aighewi (Head of IITA, Abuja Station).
Moderated by Anna Mambula, Communications Officer at African Food Changemakers, and Wisdom Ezechi, Program Analyst at Sahel Consulting– the conference commenced with a welcome address by Patrick Tognisso. In his address, Patrick gave a brief background of the conference as a part of the Sahel Scholars’ Program targeted at providing mentoring, scholarships and internships in the food and agriculture sector to undergraduates. He further urged all participants to look forward to an informative and insightful event and stay actively engaged during the conference.
Following the welcome address, Temitope Adegoroye, the Managing Partner at Sahel Consulting gave a keynote address on the strategic role of the African youth in driving solutions for sustainable food security. In his Keynote address, Mr. Temi highlighted that Africa is naturally endowed for agricultural excellence. Technological innovations, youth engagement and a positive drive for equity in our food system are promising trends we can leverage for a Sustainable future. He encouraged the youth to identify problems in the African food system which can be solved through technology and education.
In his goodwill message, the Honorable Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Mr. Ayodele Olawande urged young people to focus on coming together to solve problems. He reiterated his readiness to support the efforts of the youths in Nigeria and through the Sahel Scholars’ Program.
The guest speaker at the conference, Father Godfrey Nzamujo delivered a leacture on the Songhai Model and opportunities for young people. He noted that We can’t continue to solve current problems with the way the old youths solved it. In his words; “The youths should build a new and socio- infrastructure that aligns with our current world view. With a different mindset, our Agricultural challenges can become opportunities. And by developing an integrated farming system just like Songhai, we can counter the ‘scarcity syndrome.’”
Helen Okotie, Senior Program Analyst at Sahel Consulting gave an overview of the companies that organized the conference, namely Sahel Consulting, Sahel Capital and Africa Food Changemakers, briefly preceded by a short video documentary of the impact of the Sahel Scholars Program since inception. Her presentation also expatiated on the Sahel’s Corporate Shared Values (CSV) – social responsibility programs that serve as catalyst to build the capacity of individuals and advance social conditions in the communities in which Sahel operates, with the Sahel Scholars’ Program as a component of the Sahel’s CSV.
Following the presentation about the Sahel’s Corporate Shared Values (CSV), the conference transited into the “Ask Me Anything”. The gave the opportunity for the participants to ask the experts questions on career pathways in Agriculture and on what they do. Moderated by Wisdom Ezechi, the segment featured three speakers; Farmer Samson Ogbole (Team Lead, Soiles Farm Lab), Tosin Ojo, (Partner, Sahel Capital), and ), Chantelle de Bruyn (CEO, Buttercup Farmhouse).
The conference then was split up into breakout sessions one-on-one engagements with experts Jacinta Mwende Mwau (Country Manager, Eastern African Grain Council, Kenya) who facilitated the session on “What the future holds for young Innovative Agriculture Professional in Africa”. Joyce Okoro (M&E Coordinator, Extension Africa) facilitated the session on “Skills for the future”. Dr. Mathias Ekedo (Lecturer, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture) also facilitated the session on “Reinventing Agricultural education to fit current realities” while Dr. Beatrice Aighewi (Head of IITA, Abuja Station) facilitated the session on “Opportunities and Positioning for female agricultural researchers and agripreneurs”.
Highlight of the conference was the award of grants to the winners of the pitch competition. Gaskiya Moses from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) won the 3rd pitch prize of USD100. His innovation was on vertical farming of vegetables using waste plastics on campus. The first runner up was Oyindamola Iqmat from the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) who won the USD300 prize with her Digital Agro logistics playform which linkes student farmers to offtakers. The overall winner of the competition was Dorcas Oderinde from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) who won the USD500 star prize. Her innovation featured transforming unused school lands to productive gardens and farms. Announcing the winners, Aisha Hadejia, Partner at Sahel Consulting congratulated the winners and encouraged them to judicious utilize the funds for the implementation of the amazing ideas which aims to transform our food systems.
Anthonia Taiwo-Ajayi, HR Senior Manager, Sahel Consulting gave the closing remarks and encouraged all participants, especially the youth to change their mindsets about the opportunities in the agricultural landscape and food ecosystem by active involvement, innovative thinking and leveraging of existing platforms and resources.
The Sahel Scholars Conference is a component of the Sahel Scholars Programme (SASP), an annual programme introduced by Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition Limited and Sahel Capital Agribusiness Managers Limited in 2017 to empower outstanding Nigerian students through conferences, internship, mentorship, and scholarships. Since the maiden conference in 2017, the conference has been held every year and has reached about 6,000 students. Prior to the onset of Covid 19, the conference held physically, hosted by different universities. Some of the universities that have hosted the conference in the past include Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna and Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, all in Nigeria. The first virtual conference held in 2020, with participation from students across 30 universities. The overriding objective of the Sahel Scholars’ Conference is to position the food and agriculture sector to university undergraduates as the sector of choice for career development by showcasing exciting trends and opportunities.
Published on: This Day | Science Nigerian Publication | Voice of Nigeria | New Era | Pulse.ng | The News Icon | The Reporter | Gamji Reporters
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