Six picks from an advocate for sustainable agriculture

From the time he was a child, Azeez Salawu was independent. Growing up in the rural part of Lagos, Nigeria, he recalls waking up early with his two siblings to get ready for a day of learning. His father worked long days while his mother stayed home to cook and prepare the children for their walk to school.

Early on, his parents instilled in him discipline and trustworthiness: The discipline to follow through on his school assignments and the trustworthiness to be punctual and set an example for other pupils in the classroom. He never strayed.

For Azeez, being independent at such a young age gave him the confidence to navigate adulthood even when his journey became less predictable. He initially intended to study computer science, but when he took his university entrance exams, he didn’t get the marks he had hoped for. Instead of losing hope, he recalibrated. His next move was a surprise—he found his calling through agriculture.

Salawu joined the National Youth Service Corp where he was posted to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Abuja. There he began to understand agricultural research and what it could do for development in Africa.

“The agriculture sector is actually very broad, and each of us can play a role,” Salawu says. He realized that everyone was talking about agricultural policy, but no one was thinking about implementation. For example, no one was engaging the farmers who needed seeds to grow healthy crops. So he took action.

Azeez founded and continues to lead Community Action for Food Security (CAFS), a nonprofit organization that promotes resilient food systems in Africa. As a member of the Goalkeepers community, he also advocates more broadly for climate action and the goal of zero hunger.

Azeez shares six things that inspire him to think creatively and encourage more young people to get involved in this often-overlooked sector:

1. The End of Poverty by Jeffrey D. Sachs

This book helped to shape my understanding of issues around global economic development and strategies that enable communities to lift themselves out of poverty. I recommend this book to those who want to understand solutions that combine education, technology, and policy advocacy to create lasting change in their countries.

2. Coloring The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh

I have fun coloring in van Gogh’s Starry Night. I can color it quite fast, and the only thing that stops me is when I remind myself of the importance of thinking outside the box. Art helps me relax and make creative connections that I can apply to my work, like developing school garden activities that CAFS conducts with students at boarding schools. The students build their knowledge as young farmers and translate what they learn in the kitchen where they create meals.

3. How I Built This podcast with Guy Raz

I enjoy listening to the stories of successful social entrepreneurs and innovators featured on this podcast. Raz’s approach to problem solving is very strategic. I’ve learned so much from the creative innovations that ties in with what we do at CAFS. One episode that resonated with me was “The Surprise That’s Saving Food” featuring Lucie Basch, founder of Too Good To Go. Basch’s journey and innovative approach to tackling food waste has deeply influenced how I view sustainability and social entrepreneurship in the food sector.

4. Akinwumi A. Adesina, president of the African Development Bank

I had the privilege of meeting Akinwumi in 2016 during his first official visit as president of the African Development Bank to IITA’s station in Abuja. It was a significant visit because he was there to discuss implementation of the bank’s Empowering Novel Agri-Business-Led Employment for Youth in Agriculture project in Nigeria. He encouraged us to delve into various agricultural value chains, confidently stating that the next African billionaires would emerge from the agricultural sector. He’s been a tremendous inspiration and source of motivation for the work I do because of his role in transforming Africa’s agricultural sector and advocating for sustainable development.

5. Journaling

The journal I use now is kind of fancy—it has some little stars on it. I make sure I journal regularly because it helps me to track my thoughts and progress. I take my journal everywhere, whether I’m flying or on a road trip. I use it in meetings and during conversations so I don’t forget things. It helps me stay organized and focused on my goals.

6. Zero Hunger Data from the 2023 Goalkeepers Report

I paid close attention to the Zero Hunger data from the 2023 Goalkeepers Report because it has so much to do with agriculture. The report demonstrates the necessity of making agriculture more productive and sustainable, especially among small-scale producers who often face economic disparities. This data is closely related to the work we do at CAFS to help empower small-scale farmers, support women, and advocate for better policies.