Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday harped on the need for youths to actively engage in Agric business to enhance job creation, poverty alleviation, and the desired developments.
Obasanjo, who was a guest speaker at the Oke Ogun Agric youth Summit held in Iseyin, said though we are not maximizing the potentials in Agriculture but with effective leadership, proper sensitization, peace and security and much action and favourable government policies, we can move to a better and greater level.
“For us to attain a better place in agribusiness, all hands must be on deck individuals, government, corporate organizations entrepreneurs s and others must collaborate to ensure we do it right.”
Apart from being a farmer, the former president disclosed that he initiated the Okere Gorge dam, Ogun Osun River and Badagry to Sokoto road to open up roads and opportunities to enhance agriculture but unfortunately it was not followed up.
He hinted Governor Seyi Makinde had promised to do something about the Ikere Gorge dam
The former president, who commended the organizers of the summit, promised to support the youth association with 500 hectares of farmland in Shinal farms.
Also, the former Minister of Agriculture, Otunba Bamidele Dada, in his remark said the youth should form strong collaborations and alliances with both local and international agencies for more supports.
The chairman, South West Security Network, Codenamed Amotekun, Togun, while speaking on security and agriculture in Oke Ogun cautioned traditional rulers from selling land to the non-Yoruba in their domain.
Gen Togun said ” War is looming, the Bororo’s who are killing and attacking our people are not Nigerians and their mission is to capture the Yorubaland because they see it as their inheritance from Allah which they must conquer by all means.
Also, Chairman Niji Farms Mr Adeniji Kolawole who spoke extensively on agric business said Oke Ogun is endowed with human and natural resources but they have failed to utilize them maximally.
He offered to assist the youth through training, as off-takers of their products and facilitating financial loans through banks to boost their interest.
Ahmed Raji, SAN, in his speech, lamented the urban-rural migration and the level of importation of what ordinarily should be produced at the local level, ” The business aspect of Agriculture should be explored to its fullest to create wealth, food security, regional development and a sense of fulfilment from choosing agriculture as a profession.
Bola Olalere, the coordinator of Oke Ogun Youths Association, while welcoming guests, explained that the rationale behind the summit is to enlighten and encourage the younger generations on the importance of Agric business and the need to tap from its immense benefits.
Other guests at the event include Aseyin of Iseyin Oba Abdulganiy Ologunebi Ajinese 1, Onjonof Okeho, Alado of Ado Awaye, Otunba Oyewole Fasawe, Senator Buhari Abdulfatai and others
