Agency Flags Off Nationwide Youth Empowerment Scheme on Modern Agriculture
The Federal Government through the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has flagged off a nationwide youth empowerment and skill acquisition programme on the use of modern farming techniques.
Speaking at the commencement ceremony of the programme in Kebbi State on Monday, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of NASENI, Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna, disclosed that the programme will train 100 youths per geo-political zone of the country.
According to him, the initiative was conceived in response to the clear directive by President Muhammadu Buhari on economic diversification through agriculture.
Haruna added that the exercise was a sign of the Buhari administration’s determination to empower the youths and also to lift Nigeria’s agriculture away from mere subsistence.
The NASENI boss explained that all developed countries of the world began with agriculture and later became great through the introduction of modern techniques, science and innovations into the practice of agriculture in their journey to industrialization.
On his part, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), who chaired the occasion, informed that the president was determined to tackle the high rate of youth unemployment, poverty and food insecurity as well as keen on the industrial transformation of the country.
According to him, the programme was essentially to take the youths off the streets, address their restiveness, increase food security and make agriculture very attractive to young people.
The AGF said the North West geopolitical zone was known for farming as a general occupation which informed the introduction of modern farming for the youths in the zone.
“It is against the background that 70 per cent of Nigerian youths and workforce live in the rural areas. Therefore, targeting them with new farm implements and techniques by NASENI was like putting a round peg in a round hole,” he added.
Also, the Governor of Kebbi State, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudo, noted that the initiative was clear evidence of the desire to transform the country through the use of science, technology and innovation.
Bagudo tasked the trainees on starting to dream of becoming billionaires and millionaires by engaging in modern farming, including livestock and/or becoming successful agriculture entrepreneurs.
Meanwhile, seed planting machines, irrigation machines, water pump machines, and insecticide spraying machines were among equipment and farming implements fabricated by NASENI and handed over to the trainees.
Agro Nigeria
