ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND AGRIPRENEURSHIP AS CATALYSTS FOR FOOD SECURITY IN NIGERIA: INNOVATION, INCLUSION, AND SUSTAINABLE AGRIBUSINESS TRANSFORMATION

Abstract

Nigeria’s rapidly growing population and the intensifying effects of climate change continue to exert immense pressure on national food systems. Addressing these challenges requires innovative and inclusive strategies that extend beyond traditional farming practices. This paper investigates the role of entrepreneurship particularly agripreneurship as a catalyst for achieving food security and sustainable agribusiness transformation in Nigeria. It examines how emerging entrepreneurs, especially youth- and women-led enterprises, are leveraging digital technologies, precision agriculture, and value-added processing to boost productivity, reduce post-harvest losses, and strengthen linkages across agricultural value chains. The study further explores the contributions of government-led programmes such as the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP), which provides credit and input support to smallholder farmers; the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GESS), which improves access to subsidized farm inputs; and the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP), which fosters innovation, sustainability, and private-sector participation in agriculture. Collectively, these initiatives demonstrate Nigeria’s commitment to building a vibrant agripreneurial ecosystem and inclusive food systems. Preliminary findings suggest that entrepreneurship, supported by enabling policies, access to finance, and capacity-building initiatives, significantly enhances food availability, affordability, and resilience. The paper concludes that promoting agripreneurship through innovation and inclusion is fundamental to ensuring sustainable food security, economic diversification, and rural transformation in Nigeria.