The Oyo State Government, Southwestern, Nigeria, has urged youths in the state to engage in agriculture, saying it is time to leverage its partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, IITA.
A statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, says the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Olasunkanmi Olaleye, made the call at the Oyo State-IITA Youth Agribusiness Park Centre, Awe, during a familiarisation visit.
Olaleye said most of the facilities provided by government to encourage agriculture were relatively under-utilised, as most young people find agriculture practice unattractive, noting that the collaboration with IITA would enhance innovations in the agricultural sector of the state, boost Nigeria’s economy and ensure food security.
The commissioner stated that the project would engage and equip youths and make them self-employed farmers, assuring that the initiative was committed to revamping the agricultural sector in the state in collaboration with IITA.
He said the “government had put some opportunities in place to train youths on the innovation in agriculture, asserting that the old method of farming was obsolete.”
Olaleye, who explained that modern agriculture required training, promised that the government would intensify efforts in creating awareness to the general public on the need to embrace the innovative idea.
He disclosed that the Oyo State-IITA Youths Agribusiness Park Centre, Awe, was created to train and retrain young adults on the current innovation in agriculture, commending IITA for bringing the innovation on agriculture nearer to the people.
Olaleye said: “Agriculture is essential, and it plays a vital role in the development of our country. This is the way to go if we are serious and genuine in the quest to stimulate our economy.”
The Commissioner, alongside the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs Christianah Abioye, and the management staff, equally visited a meat shop at the Bodija International Market, Ibadan, and the ongoing construction of Silo, at Awe, respectively.
Shakirat Sadiq
