Building for Legacy: Why Collaboration Is the Backbone of Resilient Food Systems

By Ayomide Akinyele

At the Sahel Food Systems Changemakers Conference, themed “Designing for Legacy: Building Resilient and Impact-Driven Food Systems,” I found myself deeply challenged. The conversations went far beyond productivity or profitability – they forced me to reflect on what it truly means to build for legacy within Africa’s agrifood systems.

As a participant in the Mastercard Foundation’s Enterprise for Youth in Agriculture (EYiA) Program, implemented in partnership with Eupepsia, I have grown accustomed to discussions around youth leadership, innovation, and systemic change. But this conference pushed those ideas even further. It reminded me that sustainability isn’t achieved through individual brilliance—it is built through systems that endure, partnerships that evolve, and institutions that empower young people to lead. Programs like EYiA exist because the Foundation recognizes that Africa’s food future depends on young agripreneurs who are equipped not only with tools but with the mindset to build lasting impact.

One powerful insight from the conference stood out: lasting structures cannot be built in isolation. Just as the human body relies on different organs working together to sustain life, every resilient food system depends on interdependence. When one part fails, the entire structure weakens. The message was clear – collaboration is not optional; it is essential for survival and legacy.

Strategic partnerships, I realized, are the backbone of enduring impact. Farmers, policymakers, private organizations, researchers, and young innovators each hold a piece of the puzzle. When we work together, we don’t dilute our strength, we multiply it. It’s through shared purpose that we build systems capable of weathering policy shifts, funding gaps, and environmental change.

As an agripreneur, this reflection hit deeply. The supportive ecosystem created by the Mastercard Foundation has played a significant role in shaping how I think about my work – not as a short-term venture, but as a contribution to a larger, long-term movement for food systems transformation.
During her keynote, Mrs. Ndidi Nwuneli said something that has stayed with me:

“Building legacies is not about looking back in nostalgia but about looking forward in resolve.”

Those words reshaped my perspective. Legacy is not about past achievements = it’s about commitment to the future. It’s about building systems that feed generations yet unborn, empower communities, and inspire continuity long after we’re gone.

I left the conference with renewed conviction: to not just build a business, but to build a legacy. A legacy rooted in collaboration, sustained by knowledge, strengthened by supportive

institutions, and powered by purpose. Because true resilience is not just about survival – it’s about continuity. And continuity can only thrive when we build together.

• Ayomide Akinyele is an agripreneur and participant in the Mastercard Foundation’s Enterprise for Youth in Agriculture (EYiA) Programme, implemented in partnership with Eupepsia