- By Aisha Muhammad Yahaya
Sitting in the audience at the 2025 Sahel Food Systems Changemakers Conference, I realized that legacy in agriculture is not built through solitary effort — it’s built through connection. Every voice, every idea, and every collaboration shared at the event reinforced one truth: lasting impact depends on how well we work together.
The conference, themed “Designing for Legacy: Building Resilient and Impact-Driven Food Systems,” brought together leaders and practitioners who are shaping the future of food across Africa. But what stood out most to me wasn’t just the big ideas, it was the call to action for youth and women like myself to take ownership of the change we want to see.
During the breakout session “Breaking Barriers: Youth and Women Entrepreneurs Shaping Policy Commitment,” hosted by the Mastercard Foundation, I learned that opportunities for growth and participation already exist — we simply need to step forward and claim them. Mr. Kingsley Uzoma, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusiness and Productivity Outcomes, shared insights on government programs designed to empower young people and women in agriculture. His message was clear: policies and platforms are only effective when we engage with them.
From Mrs. Winnie Lai Solarin, Agriculture Policy Advisor, I took away another important lesson about the power of curiosity. She encouraged us to keep asking questions and using every avenue available, including social media, to understand and influence the policies that shape our work. Knowledge, she said, is a form of power, and informed youth are better positioned to drive meaningful change.
One of the most inspiring moments for me came from Deborah Shaba, a Mastercard Foundation participant & agripreneur, who shared her journey with honesty and determination. Her story reminded me that persistence is non-negotiable in this field and even in the face of stereotypes or limited access, passion and resilience can open doors.
Beyond the individual sessions, the biggest theme that stayed with me was collaboration — no one builds lasting systems alone. Partnerships across sectors are the heartbeat of sustainable transformation.
For me, the conference was more than an event; it was a mindset shift. I left with a renewed sense of purpose to seek partnerships that multiply impact, to stay determined even when challenges arise, and to keep learning and engaging with systems that shape our collective future.
As I return to my work as a horticulture processor and business facilitator, I do so with a deeper understanding that growth happens when we collaborate, not when we compete. The journey to resilient food systems is a shared one, and the legacies we build today will depend on how well we walk it together.
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Aisha Muhammad Yahaya is a horticulture processor and business facilitator under the Self Help Africa Programme, implemented with the World Food Programme in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.