Lessons from Gloria Elemo on youth entrepreneurship

Given the prevailing, dire economic situation that has Nigeria ranked as 109 out of 125 countries on the Global Hunger Index, GHI, and about 60 % of the youth either underemployed or jobless in the land, it has become imperative to listen to the voices of reason. That is especially so from seasoned professionals in different fields of human endeavor on the best way forward out of the woods.

One of such erudite minds happens to be Professor Gloria Elemo, the erstwhile Director-General of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research (FIIRO), Oshodi, who left her solid footprints on the sands of time, with her remarkable achievements. Interestingly, she did so with her timely focus on youth and women entrepreneurship through agro- processing of different products.

Worthy of note is that Elemo, the distinguished scientist, researcher, and astute administrator actively deployed her vast and varied wealth of knowledge in nutritional biochemistry to make the desired difference. That was after bagging her doctorate degree in human nutrition from the prestigious University of Ibadan. She also worked

as a clinical biochemist, became a head of Department at the Lagos State University, LASU as well working at the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, RMRDC in Abuja.

Her becoming a game-changer in youth entrepreneurship was made possible when she became the first female to occupy that enviable post as the DG of FIIRO and the 7th in the line. Good enough, she had as members of her team highly committed top scientists and researchers.

With such strong and supportive shoulders to lean on so many young Nigerians were able to learn the nitty-gritty of the processing, preservation and marketing of creative products such as the unique 20% cassava- 80% wheat bread which the then Minister of Agriculture, Akinwumi Adesina rebranded as ” Cassy-bread”. But that was only one out of the several food-related businesses that the youths were engaged in.

Others included the production of cassava flour, cassava starch, cassava macro noodles, and cassava chips. Not left out were soy flour, soya bread, sorghum flour, cowpea flour, sorghum malt, bean flour, plantain flour, cashew nuts, coconut oil production, edible mushrooms and tomato paste. Yet, there were some local delicacies to savour.

Precisely, under her unforgettable two-term tenure such involved the production of kunu, fufu, iru, soy gari, ogi powder, egusi soup and palm oil. With all these mouth-watering delicacies, it is no surprise that during her period in office FIIRO bagged the CVL Research Institute Award with the certificate of honour as an outstanding research institute. One of the researchers was honoured in 2018 by the Mandela Washington Organisation. So, what are the lasting lessons to glean, especially now as Nigeria grapples with harrowing hunger?

One of such is Elemo’s ability to network and collaborate with organizations that actively shared in FIIRO’s vision. For instance, through the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) ‘s Centenary Lecture, the research institute was able to connect with the Industry Linkage Committee. It was a similar interaction with the International Academy Council, the Nigeria Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST), the UNIDO Country Representative and the Managing Director/CEO of the Bank of Industry (BoI).

One other lesson to learn from Elemo’s impact on the food industry is the right application of modern technology all through the value chain of production, processing, preservation and marketing of sought-after food products. This is exemplified by the success of young entrepreneurs one of who is Wandy Foods located at Ogudu Road, Lagos. Founded by Gbonju Awojoyigbe, the lawyer – turned – food processor the company produces items such as plantain flour, beans flour, whole wheat flour, spices, chilli pepper, herbal products, and honey. And her products are NAFDAC- approved and certified by HACCP.

In all of these, in this perilous period of haunting hunger, there should be Public Private Partnership, PPP to get more of our jobless youth to get empowered in agro-processing. It is significant for adequate and prompt payment of funds meant for FIIRO, and indeed all other research institutes. Doing so will act as catalysts to sustainable youth employment.

And the mass media, as well as agro-related Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) should be at the vanguard of driving this vision to its logical conclusion.