Nigeria's agric development potentials extraordinary

NIGERIA has the capacity to be the agricultural hub of Africa and the continent's leader in food security, the President of Rockefeller Foundation, Dr Judith Rodin, has said.Rodin spoke after a session on financing agriculture with the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the Minister of Finance, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina in Abuja, yesterday.The Ford Foundation boss stressed that his visit to the country was to explore areas of collaboration between Nigeria and his organization, given the nation's potentials in agricultural business.'We are here because we believe that Nigeria can take the lead in agriculture in job creation, production, processing, and diversification of the economy and overall contribution of the economy. The opportunities here are extraordinary. It is possible if the right things are done and we can see evidence they are being done', she said.Robin pointed out that the experience of the Rockefeller Foundation in helping to create the Green Revolution in Africa has convinced them that Nigeria has what it takes to take the lead in Africa.The Interim Chair of the Alliance for Green Revolution, Steve Masiyawa also said that Nigeria has the capacity to to address the challenges in agriculture which it faces, emphasising the work being done to improve the country's agriculture can dramatically improve the economy.He urged young people to see agriculture as a viable career option because 'there is money in agriculture.'The Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, said that the country needs 'catalytic finance to improve the value chain in agriculture' adding that 'the world believes in what Nigeria is doing'Okonjo-Iweala described Rodin's visit as 'clear evidence that Nigeria is on the right path in agriculture and that the country's efforts to improve productivity, diversity and food security are being recognised by the world.'The Ford Foundation boss was accompanied by Masiyawa, on the visit.
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