The minister of agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, has called on Nigerian youth to participate actively in agriculture in order to build a future for the country
The minister made the statement at the recently held AGRIKEXPO and conference in Abuja. While commending the organisers of Youth Entrepreneurship Summit for Agribusiness Advancement (YESAA) for their contribution to the exhibition, Ogbeh approved of the training programme for young people in agribusiness and agricultural development, saying that the future of agriculture depended on the youth.
One of the highlights of the event, YESAA a training project designed to encourage the participation of young people in agriculture in view of the need to change the labour composition in the sector.
Ogbeh confirmed that the ministry had formally endorsed the event and would offer its support to the YESAA since the training of young people in agribusiness and entrepreneurship was pertinent to the future of agriculture in the country.
Ogbeh, in his address, also announced plans by the government to ensure that farmers can access bank loans at seven per cent interest rate.
AGRIKEXPO, held from 25-27 September, brought together agro-allied industries, entrepreneurs, seed companies and other stakeholders to showcase their technologies. One of biggest events for agribusiness development in the country, the conference featured an impressive turnout of participants and actors in the country’s agricultural sector and created a platform for networking for agribusiness growth.
The leader of the Nigerian Agribusiness Group (NABG), Emmanuel Ejewere, one of the conveners of the programme, told the press that with the renewed commitment to agriculture, the time had come to look at the potentials in the sector. He added that the essence of the programme was to allow key actors to come together and build a good network to drive the sector.
