Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Attracting the youth to agriculture: where are the role models?


Ask any young man in Africa who wants to be a top African soccer star whom he would want to be and the names of Didier Drogba, Emmanuel Adebayo, Samuel Eto, Asamoah Gyan and a host of other names would pop up. How about as a top African actress? Lupita Nyong'o, Omotola Jelade-Ekeinde, Genevieve Nnaji, Omoni Oboli, Patience Ozokwor (Mama G), etc. will be mentioned. How about actors? Desmond Elliot, Ramsey Noah, Nkem Owoh, Jim Iyke and many others. These are role models if not “idols” for millions of youth in Africa. They are what dreams are made of for many aspiring footballers, actors and actresses Africa.
All professions in Africa have role models for the youth, may be except agriculture. Or are they there? If so, where are they?

If Africa is to attract the youth to agriculture, whom should we introduce to them as a role model?