An agripreneur, Mr. Chima Christian, has called on Nigerian youths and students to adopt tree planting, fruit processing, and agribusiness as viable pathways to wealth creation, food security, and sustainable development.
Christian, CEO and Co-Founder of Teva Foods, made this appeal on Wednesday during the launch of the 2026 Tree Planting Campaign.
The campaign was held to mark the 2026 International Cooperative Day at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka.
It was organized by the Centre for Agripreneurship and Cooperative Research/Practice (CACORP), NAU, in collaboration with Teva Foods, Jos, Plateau State. The theme was “Planting Trees for Posterity, Climate Action, and Prosperity.”
“Nigeria currently has about 10.9 billion trees, many of which were not deliberately planted. Countries that intentionally plant and nurture trees gain enormous environmental and economic benefits,” he said.
He explained that tree planting aids climate regulation, carbon sequestration, and environmental sustainability, but lamented that Nigeria has yet to maximize the economic potential of its tree resources.
Christian noted that Nigeria loses between 40 and 60 percent of its fruit annually due to inadequate preservation and processing facilities.
He urged youths to explore opportunities in fruit preservation and processing, emphasizing that dried fruits could be sold during off-seasons and exported internationally.
“As students and young Nigerians, you should consider fruit preservation and processing for economic sustainability and wealth creation. There are huge opportunities in value addition and export, especially as Africa is being seen as a key supplier of fresh fruits and vegetables,” he said.
Christian also encouraged young people to leverage cooperative systems and partnerships to venture into commercial agriculture.
He mentioned that Nigeria has over 50 million hectares of unused arable land that could be utilized for productive farming activities.
He advised youths to partner with communities that possess fallow communal lands for tree cultivation, ensuring that host communities benefit from the proceeds.
Furthermore, he urged students to acquire practical skills in cultivating crops such as coconuts, apples, grapes, carrots, and vegetables, describing agribusiness as a profitable enterprise capable of attracting investors and creating long-term value.
In his remarks, Anambra State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Ben Odoemena, highlighted the importance of tree planting as a critical climate action within sustainable agribusiness development.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Chinyere Nwabachili, he said tree planting offers benefits such as erosion control, soil fertility enhancement, wind protection, and biodiversity conservation.
He also stressed that tree planting should be viewed as an economic activity capable of generating income and improving livelihoods.
The Vice-Chancellor of NAU, Prof. Bond Anyaehie, praised Teva Foods for supporting the university’s agricultural development efforts and empowering students with practical agribusiness skills.
Represented by Prof. Steven Ufoaroh, he urged students and youths to seize opportunities in agriculture to secure their future.
“There are limited employment opportunities today. Acquire these skills and knowledge; they will help you succeed in Nigeria’s current economic climate,” he said.
Earlier, CACORP Director Dr. Nma Okoroji described cooperatives as drivers of innovation and development in agriculture.
She emphasized that tree planting is both a moral and environmental responsibility, and that climate action is vital for restoring the earth and ensuring prosperity for future generations.
She added that CACORP is equipping youths with practical agricultural and cooperative skills to promote food security, wealth creation, and rural development.
The event featured a symbolic tree-planting exercise, along with the donation of grape and apple seedlings by Teva Foods and demonstrations on apple cultivation.
