Saraki harps on agric development for economic growth

FORMER Governor of Kwara State, Dr. Bukola Saraki on wednesday identified agriculture as one of the best ways to transform the country and revive the nation's economy.Saraki, a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, in his lecture entitled 'The Role of Agriculture in Youth Empowerment, Economic Development and Nation Building,' delivered as part of the 90th anniversary celebration of Federal College of Agriculture, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, said agriculture remains the only alternative to transform the nation.He explained that it was not by accident that he made agriculture his priority while in office, stressing that he had for long realised that the economic salvation of the country squarely rests on agricultural renaissance, which he said, informed his then administration's partnership with the Zimbabwean farmers at Songai in the state.He stated that the success of the Zimbabwean Farmers was not a fluke and called on the Federal Government to make farming attractive to youths and younger generations in the country.Recalling the success made of the partnership so far, the federal lawmaker charged the students of the college to re-orientate themselves towards making agriculture their profession after graduation and become employers of labour instead of becoming job-seekers.Speaking in the same vein, the Oyo State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Bimbo Kolade ,called on the youths in the country to embrace agriculture, not just as a profession but as a viable business through which they could earn decent living and even rub shoulders to shoulders with the high and mighty in the society.In her welcome address, the Provost of the College, Foluke Oluwatoyinbo said the choice of Saraki as the Guest Speaker was based on his identification as one of the few Nigerians 'who believe and has gone ahead to practically prove that agriculture can thrive in Nigeria.'Our Guest Speaker has shown that we have the capacity to conquer hunger, that we can feed ourselves and our industries, that we can have a place in the Agricultural World Market. He has proved that the youth can be engaged in profitable agricultural and other ventures and prosper', the provost noted.
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