The African Youth Agripreneur Forum (AYA Forum) intends to serve as a platform for aggregating agripreneurs across Africa and escalating the impact of their activities. The AYA Forum takes place on May 25 and 26, 2017 in Ibadan, Nigeria. 

There are existing opportunities to empower the youth into each stage of the agricultural value chain as “agripreneurs,” by harnessing new skills, technologies and approaches. The result would be more jobs for young people, increased food production for a growing population, less reliance on food imports, and a healthier trade balance for African countries. The business approach to agriculture that the Bank has committed to would help improve productivity, competitiveness and entrepreneurship among Africa’s youth. The ENABLE (Empowering Novel Agri-Business-Led Employment) Youth Program has shown evidence that with greater access to the agribusiness enterprise youth can become the driving force of agricultural transformation in Africa. With the right skills, improved access to credit and an enabling environment, young African men and women can become the proud owners of profitable agribusiness enterprises. The success of young entrepreneurs can help address such serious social issues as the rural and transatlantic migration and soaring youth unemployment and curtail the associated risks to society.

AYA Forum

There is a proliferation of incubation and accelerator initiatives across Africa in recent years. However there is currently no continent-wide forum/framework to connect the programs. The African Youth Agripreneur Forum (AYA Forum) therefore intends to serve as a platform for aggregating agripreneurs across Africa and escalating the impact of their activities. The AYA Forum will comprise of the following:

1. the AYA Forum, a two-day Conference/Workshop with thematic discussions and presentation of success stories;
2. Agri-Pitch Entrepreneurship Competition that will lead to a selection of three finalists for presentation at the Bank’s annual meetings in India in May 2017; and
3. side events including a mentor and incubator training program.

The AYA Forum will become a flagship element of the ENABLE Youth Program that highlights the key features and success stories as well as the impact of the Bank’s investments across Africa for youth Agripreneurship. The AYA Forum will also showcase the strength of collaboration and partnership with key institutions such IITA, AAIN, CTA, and others.

Purpose and Objectives

• Demonstrate/showcase success and business potential of agribusiness across Africa for job and wealth creation; and
• Connect agripreneurs to business and development organizations.

Expected Outcomes

• Demonstrate and showcase successes and business potential of agribusiness across Africa for job and wealth creation;
• Connect youth agripreneurs to business and development organizations and linkages with potential markets as off-takers within and outside Africa;
• Promote linkages among entrepreneurs, with possible Letters of Intent to collaborate between clusters of agripreneurs;
• Run an Agri-Pitch competition where the 3 top competitors will be invited to the AfDB Annual Meetings in India in May to present their proposal and receive an award.