Motivational Drivers of Agripreneurship Among Educated Youths in Ondo State, Nigeria: Implications from a Multivariate and SWOT-Based Analysis

ABSTRACT: Youth unemployment remains one of the most pressing development challenges in Nigeria, despite the country’s abundant agricultural potential. Agripreneurship, the integration of entrepreneurship into agriculture, has been increasingly promoted as a pathway to create jobs, enhance food security, and modernize the agricultural sector. This study examined the motivational drivers of agripreneurship among educated youths in Ondo State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, and data were collected from 150 educated youths across three senatorial districts using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, logistic regression, and SWOT analysis were used to analyze the data. Findings revealed that the majority of respondents possessed positive perceptions of agriculture, rejecting negative stereotypes such as farming being meant for school dropouts or associated with poverty. Nonetheless, they acknowledged challenges, including the capital-intensive and laborious nature of agricultural ventures. Logistic regression results indicated that access to farmland, parental involvement in farming, access to credit, extension services, and tertiary education were significant predictors of agripreneurship participation. SWOT analysis further highlighted internal weaknesses such as insufficient funds, poor processing facilities, and ineffective marketing systems, alongside external threats including policy inconsistency, high logistics costs, and limited access to land. However, opportunities such as technological innovation, value addition training, and cultural support systems were identified as key enablers. The study concludes that while agripreneurship presents a viable career option for educated youths, structural and institutional barriers must be addressed. Policies that improve access to land, finance, and modern technologies, alongside youth-oriented farm policies and capacity-building initiatives, are essential to foster sustainable youth agribusiness engagement.