AFDB promises more jobs in Nigeria agric sector

    

The chief sponsor of Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme-Phase 1 (ATASP-1), African Development Bank (AFDB) which Nigeria agric Minister, Dr. akinwunmi Adesina has been penciled down alongside four other contestants as the likely new incoming President has said the injection of one hundred and seventy thousand dollar ($170,000.00) into agricultural development in the country is meant to create more jobs at the value chains of food production, processing and marketing in the country.

Speaking at the lunch of the programme at the newly opened regional office of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Rural Development Agriculture (IITA) at Lugbe, Abuja, the Country representative, AFDB Mr. Andoh Mensah said the motivation behind this financial support is hinged on the training programme of the young entrepreneurship in agriculture by IITA

The ATASP-1 which is financed by the African Development Bank (AFDB) to the tune of $170million according to Mr. Andoh  Mensah is aimed at creating additional income to more producers and entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector in Nigeria saying about 120,000 jobs along the value chain of the different commodities will be created for the youths in the project with reliance on IITA’s participatory training.

 Mr. Andoh Mensur expressed further that the ATASP-1 was part of the African Development Bank’s efforts towards positively contributing to the ATA of the Federal government of Nigeria aimed at creating 3.5 million jobs along key value chains. 

 The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina said that “Africa’s millionaires and billionaires  will make their money from Agriculture” adding that government will do everything possible to see that wealth is unlocked from this sector as more youths would be gainfully employed thereby bringing business opportunities to rural communities in the continent. 

The Director General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dr. Nteranya Sanginga said “youths all over Africa are migrating in search of business opportunities, leaving behind a life time opportunity and an increasingly ageing population. The challenge is to create business opportunities for productive activity in agriculture and non-farm enterprises.

 Meanwhile, the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina is among the five select candidates for the pump presidential position of AFDB as many indices have been speculated to have been working in his favour importantly as the present policy on agriculture in the country is seriously flying his credentials.

Dr. Adesina will be contesting with the Ethiopia’s finance minister, Sufian Ahmed, Cape Verdean Finance Minister, Cristana kamara, currently Vice President of the Islamic Development Bank, Birama Sidibe and Chad’s finance minister,  Kordje Bedoumra.

Adesina has been quoted to saying “I am excited to be shortlisted for the position of the President, African Development bank. I will develop every part of Africa. Africa is my home”