By Chinedum Treasure
Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Teva Foods, Chima Christian, has urged Nigerian youths and students to embrace tree planting, fruit processing and agribusiness as viable avenues for wealth creation and food security.
Christian spoke at the 2026 Tree Planting Campaign held at Nnamdi Azikiwe University to mark the 2026 International Cooperative Day.
He lamented that Nigeria loses between 40 and 60 percent of its fruit production annually due to poor preservation and processing facilities, encouraging young people to explore value addition opportunities in the sector.
According to him, processed and dried fruits can be marketed during off-seasons and exported, creating sustainable income for entrepreneurs.
Christian also encouraged youths to leverage cooperative societies and partnerships to venture into commercial agriculture, noting that Nigeria has vast arable land suitable for productive farming.
Speaking at the event, Anambra State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Ben Odoemena, described tree planting as an important climate action that also offers economic benefits, including income generation and environmental protection.
Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof. Bond Anyaehie, urged students to acquire practical agricultural skills, stressing that agribusiness remains a viable pathway to self-reliance amid limited employment opportunities.
The event featured a symbolic tree-planting exercise and the donation of grape and apple seedlings by Teva Foods.
Tags: Agriculture, Agribusiness, Youth Empowerment, Tree Planting, Fruit Processing
