‘Nigeria Economy Needs Creativity, Diversification To Agriculture’

Nigerians, especially business owners have been urged to pay attention to the agriculture sector, which can revitalise the economy.

At the at the event titled, ‘Family Farming as a Practical Solution to Food Security and Youth Unemployment,’ Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adeshina said, “Nigeria is at a point in her history, when unless she becomes creative, the economy will collapse completely because it has depended too long on oil and we know what has happened to it at the international market. The other alternative for the country is agriculture and we have all it takes for agriculture to thrive: good soil, vast land and people, who are willing to take any available opportunity to put food on the table and also make money.”

While reiterating the commitment of the new administration to economic diversification, Adesina added, “the President has declared that agriculture and mining will be given the needed attention to engender food security in the country.”

The initiator and Gourmet Guide food blogger at Unilag FM radio, Lydia Enyidiya Eke said that her passion for youths and food security was the reason behind campaigning for economic diversification on the occasion of World Food Day 2015.
“People spend millions on dance competitions and music, while agriculture sector is neglected and as a result, I decided to organise seminars on this aspect of our economy. Since 2013, it has been a yearly event to commemorate the World Food Day and as a way of shifting the attention of the government and the people from over reliance on oil to agriculture sector that once contributed more than 50 per cent of the nation’s GDP,” She said.

Mrs. Eke expressed her gratitude to people and organisations that supported the event, adding that it is her desire to take the initiative to the rural areas.

Chairman, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Prince Wale Oyekoya called on other regions of the country to stop relying on the northern part of the country for agricultural produce, but engage actively in farming.
He said that the main objective of family farming is to eradicate poverty in the country and urged the three tiers of government to empower the rural farmers, especially the women.