FeedUp Africa, a development organisation targeting food security in Africa, has launched its inaugural agribusiness mentorship programme.
According to the Creator of FeedUp Africa, Jinmi Ajayi, the organisation was established to address the issue of food insecurity in Africa by implementing a variety of tailored programmes and initiatives.
Ajayi pointed out that food insecurity was a major issue, but it also created opportunities for identifying gaps and being creative.
He said, “There is a direct link between nutrition and gross domestic product growth, we must embark on broad-based intensive livelihood-oriented programmes and projects to chart the course towards tangible development.
“Handholding entrepreneurs positions them for growth, it will boost confidence of young talents in the agriculture sector. A small-sized poultry can grow to a medium-size within a few years. A well-galvanised value chain expansion is what creates wealth and jobs for our increasing number of youth.
“Hence, employment leads to improved livelihood and household incomes. Participants will benefit from a holistic programme covering the various levels of the food system that is, production, processing, distribution, marketing, consumption and waste.”
He stated that with about 270 million people experiencing varying levels of hunger, African countries could not afford to tarry at an aspirational level as it was expedient to be operational.
“Tackling food insecurity is about creativity and setting realistic ideas in motion. It is about targeted programmes and projects. It involves a plethora of pathways per time, space which makes the mentorship programme relevant.”
“It is a to-year opportunity for beneficiaries to access resources of experienced agribusiness players such as Chike Nwagwu (CEO, Novus Agro); Dickson Orisamuyiwa (CEO Perez and Peret); Victoria Madedor (Co-Founder, Agroverified); Femi Adekoya (CEO, Integrated Aerial Precision) and Helen Emore (CEO Scientia Consult). “
