AFS Forum 2026: Unlocking Opportunities for Africa’s Food System | Youth, Agri-Finance & InnovationWhat does Africa’s food system need to become more productive, inclusive, resilient and capable of creating meaningful opportunities for young people?In this insightful conversation, we speak with Lucy Chioma Aniagolu, an agri-educator and founder of Agrodemy, about the upcoming African Food Systems Forum (AFS Forum) 2026 in Kigali, Rwanda.Drawing from her experience as a delegate, speaker and Rising Star Agripreneur of Africa award recipient, Lucy shares valuable insights into what makes AFS Forum such an important platform for Africa’s agriculture and food systems.In this episode, we explore:🌱 Why AFS Forum is one of the most important gatherings for Africa’s agricultural sector💰 The African agri-finance gap and why access to finance remains unequal👩🏾🌾 Why Africa needs to invest not only in agribusinesses, but also in agricultural talent🎓 The growing importance of agricultural education and career-based skills development💼 How youth employment can strengthen agricultural businesses and attract investment📱 The role of digital visibility in helping agripreneurs connect with funders, partners and opportunities🤝 Why collaboration and networking are critical to building a stronger food system🌍 How young Africans can use AFS Forum to understand global agricultural trends and identify new opportunities📋 Practical tips for first-time attendees and virtual participants at AFS Forum🚀 How to prepare, network intentionally, take actionable notes and follow up after the summit💡 Ideas for making AFS Forum even more inclusive and impactful, including youth orientation, watch parties and post-summit action resourcesOne of the key messages from this conversation is simple: don't just attend AFS Forum, be intentional about what you want to learn, who you want to meet and what you want to achieve.Whether you are a young agripreneur, farmer, agritech founder, agricultural professional, investor, policymaker, educator, student or simply interested in Africa's food systems, this conversation offers practical lessons you can take away.Watch, learn, share your thoughts and join the conversation on the future of Africa's food system.#AFSForum2026 #AfricanFoodSystems #Agriculture #AgriBusiness #AgriFinance #YouthInAgriculture #Agritech #FoodSecurity #AgriculturalEducation #Africa #AgriEntrepreneurship #Kigali #Rwanda #TheLasgidiFarmerPodcast

Beyond the Headlines: Understanding the Systems That Shape Nigeria’s Future

As Nigeria moves closer to another presidential election, the question of the country’s future is increasingly on the minds of Nigerians.

But beyond the question of who should lead Nigeria lies a deeper question: Why do some nations succeed while others struggle to realise their potential? And why, despite Nigeria’s enormous resources and progress in some areas, do millions of citizens continue to experience hardship?

Nigeria’s current development story presents a number of difficult contradictions. Economic reforms and recovery are being celebrated, yet concerns about living standards and human development remain. Oil production may be improving, but questions about energy affordability persist. Investment and financial markets may show positive signals, while many SMEs and ordinary Nigerians continue to struggle. Educational reforms are taking place, yet millions of children remain out of school. Security efforts continue, but kidnapping and insecurity still threaten lives, food production and investment.

And then there are the questions of leadership, democracy, institutions and citizenship.

How much of Nigeria’s development challenge can be attributed to leadership? What should development actually be measured by? Can economic growth be considered successful when its benefits are not broadly felt? How independent are the institutions that are expected to protect democracy and the rule of law? What role should religion, ethnicity and regional identity play in a secular and diverse state? And beyond government, what responsibility do citizens have for the country they want to see?

From the economy and elections to governance, law, security, education, agriculture, culture and international affairs, this conversation looks beyond individual headlines to the systems and connections behind them.

Because Nigeria's challenges do not exist in isolation. Leadership affects institutions. Institutions affect the economy. The economy affects livelihoods. Security affects food production and investment. Education and culture shape citizens. And citizens, in turn, shape the society they live in.

On this episode of The Lasgidi Farmer Podcast, we bring together different perspectives to examine these connections and ask a fundamental question:

What kind of systems, leadership and citizenship does Nigeria need to translate its enormous potential into meaningful development?

🎙️ Host: Toheeb Azeez — Agribusiness & Researcher
🎙️ Co-Host: Olugbenga Aderemi-Williams — Business, Economic & Political Analyst
🎙️ Speaker: Oladapo Quassim Olaniyonu Esq. — Lawyer & Public Affairs Analyst

🎙️ Speaker: Olanrewaju Sulaiman Lawal — Legal Practitioner🎙️ Speaker: Jibril Rufa’u — Legal Practitioner, Arbitrator & Political Analyst

Theme: Connecting the Dots – Understanding the Systems That Shape Development

🎧 Listen. Think. Question. Join the conversation.

The Lasgidi Farmer Podcast

Info. Insights. How-to. Opportunities.
Nigeria. Africa. Global.

#TheLasgidiFarmerPodcast #BeyondTheHeadlines #Nigeria #NigerianPolitics #NigeriaEconomy #NigeriaDevelopment #Governance #Leadership #Democracy #NigerianElections #EconomicReforms #HumanDevelopment #GoodGovernance #PublicPolicy #NigeriasFuture

The Digital Revolution in Nigerian Agriculture: How ICTs Are Transforming Extension Services and Reaching Smallholder Farmers

Can digital technologies truly transform agriculture in Nigeria? More importantly, how can they reach the millions of smallholder farmers who produce most of our food?

In this episode of The Lasgidi Farmer Podcast, we sit down with Professor Taofeeq Oyedeji Yekinni, Professor of Agricultural Extension Communication at the Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, University of Ibadan, to explore how Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are reshaping agricultural extension services and the future of farming in Nigeria.

Drawing from years of research and practical experience, Professor Yekinni explains why digital transformation is no longer optional for Nigeria's agricultural development. We discuss how mobile phones, radio, SMS, social media, the internet, and emerging digital platforms are connecting farmers with timely information, research findings, advisory services, and market opportunities.

In this conversation, you'll discover:

• Why ICT-driven agricultural extension is essential for improving productivity and food security.
• How digital media can translate complex agricultural research into practical knowledge that farmers can easily understand and apply.
• Why poor internet connectivity and weak rural infrastructure remain major barriers to digital inclusion.
• The often-overlooked importance of traditional communication tools such as radio and SMS in overcoming language, literacy, trust, and affordability challenges.
• Why a hybrid extension approach -combining traditional and digital media -is the most effective way to reach diverse farming communities.
• The growing risks of agricultural misinformation on social media and how farmers can access credible, verified information for better decision-making.

This episode offers valuable insights for farmers, extension professionals, researchers, students, policymakers, agribusiness professionals, development practitioners, and anyone interested in the future of agriculture in Nigeria and Africa.

🎧 Listen now and join the conversation on how digital innovation can build a more inclusive, resilient, and productive agricultural sector.

Guest: Professor Taofeeq Oyedeji Yekinni
Host: Toheeb Azeez
Podcast: The Lasgidi Farmer Podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast, leave a rating, and share it with someone passionate about agriculture, innovation, and, rural and sustainable development.

#NigerianAgriculture #DigitalAgriculture #ICTs4Ag #PrecisionAgriculture #SmartFarming #RuralDevelopment #AgriculturalExtension #NigerianFarmers #RuralNigeria #AgriculturalResearch #AgriculturalPolicy #DigitalInclusion #RuralConnectivity #FoodSystems #TheLasgidiFarmerPodcast