From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
Kano State Deputy Governor, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna has urged Nigerian youths to embrace agriculture and become entrepreneurs and employers of labour instead of depending on white-collar jobs that are not easy to come by.
Gawuna who is also the Kano state Commissioner for Agriculture assured that Kano State and the Federal Government are currently investing hugely towards ensuring that agriculture is given the top priority as means of income generation.
He spoke on Monday during the opening ceremony of Conversational Conference in honor of the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Social Investments, Barr. Isma’il Ahmed held at Afficent Event Centre, Kano.
He regretted that despite the transformational programmes being introduced on agriculture, majority of youths in the country are not willing to fully embark on farming activities which remains the back bone of economic development.
“There are some countries that have prospered and are doing very well without the aspect of Technology. They do that interns of Agriculture and are part of the super powers today. They can be able to buy the technology and take it to their country particularly on Agriculture,” he noted.
According to him, “as crude oil price is now dwindling, the best option for this country is for her youth to accept and fully embrace agriculture which can make Nigeria to sustain her self.
” In Kano, we have the best fertile land needed for cultivation and we have the highest and best extension workers compared to other States in Nigeria.”
On the Conversational Conference tittled ‘Education and Empowerment: Prospects and Challenges in the 21th Century, ‘ Gawuna said the theme is in line with the Kano State Policy on Free, Compulsory Primary and Basic and Education policy which has since been implemented in the State.
He stated that, “this topic is very important that is why the Government of Kano State recently decided to make basic and post basic educatiin free and compulsory and is now being implemented.
” But not without challenges, there are a lot of challenges because is something very big and needs a lot interms of planning, strategic and financing but all the same, a forum like this, is where the Government will get more idears and welcome suggestions on the way forward.”
He revealed that in this year’s Budget, education takes the highest with 25% going to the sector, adding that the State policy on free and compulsory education had started yielding positive impact.
In his remarks, the Minister of Youths and Sports, Mr. Sunday Dare declared that due to the demand of time there is now a need to pay more attention to the Youth particularly investing on Youth to make them self reliant.
Dare maintained that the Federal Ministry for Youths and Sports is prioritizing and focusing its plans on Youth through Youth Development Master Plan, stressing that, “our plan is to make sure that we join the 5 other Countries in Africa who now have the Youth Development Fund to support them on entrepreneurship programmes.”
