Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu has applauded the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for introducing the Agri360 Mechanisation Training Initiative.
Mrs Tinubu described the initiative as a strategic investment in the future of Nigeria’s agriculture and a significant step towards empowering women and young people.
The First Lady stated this at the National Colloquium on the Role of Women and Youth in Advancing Agricultural Mechanisation in Nigeria and the unveiling of the Agri360 Mechanisation Training Initiative, held at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja.
Represented at the event by the wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, the First Lady noted that the initiative would build the capacity of five thousand (5,000) women and young people in agricultural mechanisation, digital agriculture, equipment operation and maintenance, entrepreneurship and agribusiness management.
Mrs Tinubu said; “the initiative was particularly significant because the future of Nigeria’s agricultural sector depended largely on empowering the country’s vibrant youth and resourceful women with the skills, tools and opportunities required to participate meaningfully in modern agriculture.”
According to her, agricultural mechanisation would enhance traditional farming methods by increasing productivity, reducing the physical burden associated with farming and making agriculture more attractive to young Nigerians.
She further noted that mechanisation would create opportunities beyond farming itself including equipment operation and maintenance, agricultural processing, logistics, technology and other areas across the agricultural value chain.
The First Lady observed that young Nigerians were already redefining the agricultural landscape through the adoption of digital technologies, precision farming, artificial intelligence, drones and other innovative approaches.
“They no longer see agriculture as subsistence; they see it as a huge opportunity, an enterprise and a career path to prosperity, “ she said.
The First Lady emphasised the importance of creating greater opportunities for women in agriculture noting that when women acquire the skills and resources to earn incomes and grow their businesses, the benefits extend beyond them to their families and communities.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, in his remarks said; “mechanisation provides modern farming machinery and agricultural equipment which eases production and reduces the physical strength associated with farming.”
He said; “the Agri360 initiative targets the process from land preparation to value addition ensuring farmers have access to water and machinery.”
The Minister emphasised that there is a shift from conversation to action with agriculture as an economic enterprise changing the lives of farmers in Nigeria which aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, who identifies agriculture as a key driver of economic growth, food security and job creation.
The event featured goodwill messages from the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Abdullahi, Patricia Stan-Dioka of Mela-Chiyoma Pat Limited one of the partners of the initiative,the Governors of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti; Akwa Ibom, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno and Lagos Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu as well as other stakeholders.
The National Colloquium highlighted the critical role of agriculture in Nigeria’s economy while identifying low mechanisation, limited access to finance, inadequate skills and infrastructure and the exclusion of women and youth as major barriers to agricultural productivity.
