Oyo Govt Urges Youths, Students to Embrace Tech-Driven Agriculture

The Oyo State Government has urged young people and students to embrace modern, technology-driven agricultural practices that align with innovation and sustainability goals.

The state’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Olasunkanmi Olaleye, made the appeal at a Symposium for Agricultural Students and Youths held at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan, as part of activities marking the 2025 World Food Day celebration.

Olaleye emphasized that agriculture had evolved far beyond the traditional hoe-and-cutlass method, describing the modern sector as mechanised, digital, and knowledge-based.

“Agriculture today is fundamentally different from what it used to be decades ago. Until our youths and students have a change of mindset towards agriculture, there can be no meaningful progress,” he said.

He highlighted climate change, post-harvest losses, food inflation, and unemployment as major challenges confronting the sector, noting that young people remain the key drivers of the state’s agricultural transformation agenda.

The commissioner encouraged participants to view agriculture as a viable business venture and a pathway to economic independence, adding that youth participation is critical to achieving food security in Oyo State.

“You are the generation of advanced agriculture — the generation of digital agriculture — where every aspect, from cultivation to processing, is technologically driven,” Olaleye stated.

In his goodwill message, the Director General of the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA), Debo Akande, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Kola Badmus, commended the ministry for organising the event, describing it as “timely and strategic.”

He reiterated OYSADA’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for agribusiness development, stressing that the active involvement of students and youths is essential to reshaping the agricultural landscape.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Abosede Owoeye, explained that the symposium was organised under the 2025 World Food Day theme, “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future.”

She noted that the programme aimed to expose young people to the vast opportunities in agribusiness, with a focus on innovation, agritech, sustainability, and job creation.

“We are here because we recognise that the future of agriculture, our state, and our nation rests in the hands of our youths,” Owoeye said.

She added that bringing together aspiring agricultural leaders and experienced farmers symbolised unity and a shared purpose in advancing agricultural transformation in the state.

The symposium featured lectures, panel discussions, and interactive sessions, where students and participants engaged agricultural experts on modern techniques, innovation, and opportunities in the sector.