In an inspiring display of leadership, innovation, and community spirit, 11-year-old Joshua Ayankanmi, a grade five student of the International School of IITA, led a special outreach to Akinyele Local Government, Moniya, on 19 June. The initiative, organized as part of Joshua’s Primary Years Programme (PYP) Project Exhibition, focused on the critical theme of sustainable agriculture.
Joshua planted vegetables in his school garden during his project year. He sold them to purchase improved planting materials to support farmers. Accompanied by his father, mentor, teachers, and classmates, Joshua engaged 20 smallholder farmers in the area. He shared insights on sustainable agricultural practices, explaining how good farming practices can protect the environment, conserve resources, and promote healthy crops and soils.
Joshua continued, “I did not do this alone. My mentor, parents, teachers, classmates, and the IITA community helped me. The Maize and Cassava Breeding Units of IITA contributed greatly to augmenting the provision of these planting materials for you, our esteemed farmers.” Following this, he distributed improved planting materials—cassava, maize, and plantain suckers—to these farmers.
The outreach brought together enthusiastic farmers and community leaders. Joshua encouraged them to care for their land, embrace sustainability, and share the improved varieties with others. “Together, we can build a good and strong farming system,” he said to the cheers of both his peers and the farmers.
Joshua’s father, also a staff at IITA, emphasized the quality of the planting materials, noting that they were improved IITA-bred varieties with enhanced yield, resistance to pests and diseases, and suitability for local growing conditions. “If you share these planting materials,” he urged, “soon Akinyele farmers will become a model for the rest of Oyo State and even beyond.” Some of the beneficiaries also encouraged the young students to explore technology as a tool to revolutionize agriculture in Nigeria and the world.
Ayoola Salami, Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Akinyele Local Government, commended the initiative and expressed gratitude to IITA and the young ambassadors. “This is a seed of change planted in our community,” he said. Omotosho Adeyemi, AFAN Vice President, thanked the team and pledged that the distributed materials would be used to advance food security.
Joshua’s mentor, Odom-Kolombia Oluchi, expressed joy at the successful culmination of his project journey, praising the dedication, teamwork, and impact demonstrated through Joshua’s vision. Joshua’s story is a remarkable example of how youth, backed by community support and institutional knowledge, can be powerful agents of agricultural transformation.
Contributed by Folake Oduntan
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