Nigeria needs youths in agriculture, says minister

 

The Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has called on Nigerian youths to participate actively in agriculture in order to build a future for the country.

A statement by the Chief Executive Officer, 151 Products Limited, Ugo Nwabuisi, on Friday stated that the minister made the call at the 2016 edition of the Agrikexpo and NABG conferences in Abuja.

While commending the organisers of Youth Entrepreneurship Summit for Agribusiness Advancement for their contribution to the exhibition, Ogbeh approved of the training programme for young people in agribusiness and agricultural development, saying that the future of agriculture depended on the youth.

The YESAA was a major highlight of the Agrikexpo and NABG conferences.

Ogbeh confirmed that the ministry had formally endorsed the event and would offer its support to the YESAA since the training of young people in agribusiness and entrepreneurship was pertinent to the future of agriculture in the country.

In addition, he unveiled the plan of the ministry to organise town hall meetings with youths in agriculture in the future.

Earlier in his address, the Vice President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Sani Dangote, stated that youths represented a major part of the Nigerian population and their inclusion in agricultural policies and practices was needed.

The statement said more than 100 youths, who participated in the YESAA initiative, expressed satisfaction with the level of engagement and the opportunity to see agricultural business in practice.

In order to offer total support to the government in its vision to integrate youths into agriculture, the Executive Director, Operations & Logistics, 151 Products Limited, Mr. Henry Anario, assured the minister that the YESAA would be a focal event and would be held regionally.

He commended President Muhammdu Buhari for his focus on agricultural development, saying it was the only way out of the present economic challenge the country was facing, and implored Nigerians to be patient with the government.

Anario urged the youth to see opportunities in the present state of economy and apply themselves to rewarding and lucrative business offers in agribusiness.