Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State has urged youths to shift their attention to agricultural practice to achieve self-reliance in food production and bolster economic development.
He noted that agriculture remains a viable solution to the country’s economic challenges.
The Governor, speaking in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday during the launch of a four-day training and empowerment program for Ekiti youth in agribusiness, highlighted the program as a long-term solution to the ongoing need for welfare support among citizens.
He disclosed that the program, a partnership between the government and YSJ Limited, aims to tackle youth unemployment by promoting agribusiness, emphasizing that the initiative aligns with his pledge to provide avenues for youth to succeed.
Also emphasizing the importance of combating hunger and following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive for Governors to alleviate hunger nationwide, Governor Oyebanji depicted agriculture as a lucrative yet gradual pursuit.
He encouraged youths to be patient and apply the skills gained from the four-day training program diligently.
The Governor maintained that agriculture has the potential to stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and reduce poverty across the state.
He assured the participants of his administration’s full support to ensure their success in agriculture. He disclosed that his government has deployed forest rangers to protect farmers and their crops from any harm or threat.
“What I promised you when I was campaigning was that I would create access to opportunities for you, and we have created access, we have brought opportunities.
“We campaigned on the mantra of shared prosperity and continuity and we can only prosper if we are productive because productivity is the only pathway to prosperity and any nation that is not productive cannot prosper, and you can only be productive through what we are doing and those of you that have stepped out, you can rest assured that you have a partner in me”. The Governor said.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade, earlier in his welcome address, appreciated the Governor for his love for the youth and his determination to make the state an agriculture hub in the country. He said the empowerment program was designed to tap into the abundant agricultural potentials of the state to make the younger ones prosper.
According to the Commissioner, involving the youth in agribusiness would aid food security in the state. He charged the participants to engage earnestly in the training session and utilize the program to improve their livelihoods.
The Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt attended the event—Hon Adeoye Aribasoye, along with other government officials and traditional leaders.
(Ekiti News)
