The Lagos State government has restated its commitment to the revitalisation of agribusinesses in Nigeria.

The state government, through its institutions; The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and the Ministry of Agriculture, urged the Federal Government to prioritise investments into the agriculture value chain.

Specifically, the Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms Abisola Olusanya, said investments will encourage youth participation in the sector which will, in turn, improve food production and general development.

Speaking at the event of the 2021 LCCI Secondary School Essay Competition themed, “The role of agribusiness in Food Security and National Development,” Olusanya said while the agricultural sector plays a strategic role in improving food availability, the youths have the potentials to catalyse agricultural development, and subsequently the nation’s development through their collective efforts.

She noted that it has become imperative to catalyse development in the agribusiness system, owing to the global crude oil crisis- one from which Nigeria is not exempted.

Similarly, the President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, (LCCI), Mrs Toki Mabogunje, harped on the importance of the agribusiness sector to the development of the nation’s economy.

Represented by the Vice President of LCCI, Mr Olusegun Osunkeye, the President cited reports from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) which affirmed that agribusiness is a key driver of sustainable economic growth.

“Agribusiness sector employs the most people in the world while stating that it is the main source of food and income for many people living in poverty, therefore it is essential to many countries economic and national development,” Osunkeye stated

source agronigeria