VENTURE INTO AGRICULTURE, NON-OIL EXPORTS, PS URGES UNEMPLOYED YOUTHS

 VENTURE INTO AGRICULTURE, NON-OIL EXPORTS, PS URGES UNEMPLOYED YOUTHS

Unemployed youths and those looking to increase their source of income will do themselves a high level of good by venturing into agriculture and non-oil exports especially as it provides a veritable platform for gainful employment as well as ensuring food security in the country.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olu. Ola. Aikulola who also doubles as the Chairman State Committee on Export Promotion (SCEP) disclosed this in Abeokuta during the 34th National Scientific and Technical Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Association of Animal Health and Husbandry Technologists (NAAHHT) themed, ’Animal Health Practice, Panacea to Sustainable Food and Health Security in Nigeria”.

Represented by Director, Industrial Promotion, Engr. Kehinde Akintomide, Aikulola stated that youths should not procrastinate on going into agriculture and non-oil exports as the two areas are money spinners which if successfully harnessed could make them gainfully employed and bolster their income, assuring that the present administration would continue to make the business environment conducive for them through various programmes and policies.

"Meanwhile, non-oil export and agricultural practice is increasingly attracting more investment to the economic development of our great country, and smart citizens are already taking full advantage of it. In view of this, the State Government through the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment is aligning itself with this type of laudable Scientific and Technical Conference", the Permanent Secretary stated.

Aikulola lauded the association for organising the event, calling on experts in the field of animal husbandry to be innovative so as to help save the country from the challenge of food insecurity which is partly caused by over-dependence on oil, adding that agriculture and animal husbandry provides a good avenue for the diversification of the Nigerian economy.

Also speaking, his counterpart in the Information and Strategy Ministry, Mr. Waheed Adeshina, represented by Deputy Director, Planning, Research and Statistics (PRS) in the Ministry, Mr. Omotola Odutayo said sustainable food and health security is achievable in the country, suggesting the implementation of a multi-faceted approach which include agricultural transformation, technological advancement, education of farmers, collaboration of relevant stakeholders.

Delivering a keynote address, the Co-founder, Animal Care Services Konsult, Dame Olufunmilayo Agbato noted that 800 million people across the world do not have food to eat, while in Nigeria, 17 million were food insecure in 2022, adding that projected population increase in the world poses serious food insecurity challenges.

Agbato emphasised that the non-availability of reliable power supply was inhibiting processing of agriculture and animal husbandry products, promoting wastage of produce and forcing many stakeholders out of business.

In his welcome address, State Chairman, Nigerian Association of Animal Health and Husbandry Technologist (NAAHHT), Prince Oyewunmi Oyedele said the conference is a convergence of stakeholders which would help foster sustainable food production as well as explore various aspects of animal health and disease control, role of technology, processing among other roles which would help stakeholders make informed decisions on food and health security.

 

Wale Osunbiyi,

Press Officer, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.