Alake of Egbaland Urges Youths to Embrace Farming, Slams Nigeria’s Dependence on Food Imports

The Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, has sparked a debate by urging Nigerian youths to turn to agriculture as a solution to the country’s unemployment crisis and worsening food insecurity. Speaking ahead of the 2025 Lisabi Festival, the monarch criticized the nation’s over-reliance on food imports, despite its vast arable land. He described the current situation as “unacceptable” and argued that the youth can reverse these challenges by engaging in farming enterprises.

His comments, made at his Ake Palace in Abeokuta, have raised eyebrows, with critics questioning whether the monarch’s push for farming is enough to address Nigeria’s deep-rooted economic and infrastructural issues. While Oba Gbadebo emphasized the importance of agriculture, some have argued that simply encouraging the youth to go into farming might not be the silver bullet needed to solve the broader issues of unemployment and food scarcity.

“We cannot continue to rely on food imports while sitting on vast, fertile land,” Gbadebo said, urging the youth to “stop roaming the streets” and instead engage in agriculture. His call comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with a high unemployment rate and severe food insecurity, leaving many to wonder if this solution is practical in the face of a system plagued by inadequate resources and support for farmers.

Additionally, Gbadebo announced the choice of Oba Ladapo Idowu Ademola, the second Alake of Egbaland, as the hero for this year’s festival. While celebrating the historical contributions of the former monarch, some are questioning whether the focus on the past is distracting from the urgent need for modern solutions to Egbaland’s contemporary problems.

As the debate over the future of agriculture and youth employment continues, Oba Gbadebo’s comments have undeniably reignited the conversation about Nigeria’s agricultural potential—and whether the youth are truly ready to answer the call.