FG REAFFIRMES COMMITMENT TO CREATE JOBS THROUGH E-WALLET SYSTEM

Group Picture during the World food day/ Agric Show

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to create jobs for million of Nigerian youth through E-wallet System; which will reduce unemployment, increase productivity and ensure sustainable development.

The Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, disclosed this during the flagging-off Agric Show/ Farms Exhibition organized as part of the activities to mark the October 16, 2018 World Food Day celebration in Abuja-Keffi Nasarawa State.; the theme of this year’s agric show is, “Strategies for Promoting Export of Agricultural Products”.

The Hon. Minister said that the Green Alternative is an agriculture policy initiated by Federal Government aimed at promoting agriculture,attract private sector, create jobs for youth, ensure food security and provide value addition in agricultural sector.

Hon.  Minister also stated that zero hunger is achievable; call on all the partners and stakeholders to join forces across board to ensure adequate founding, provision of seeds and fruits to stimulate agribusiness in order to ensure effective extension services and delivery.

The Hon. Minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Abdulkadir Mu’azu, further disclosed that the Green Alternative Policy has started yielding benefits to the economy; the rice revolution has granted food security to some extent; with huge reduction on rice importation and actualization of self-sufficiency in food production.

He stated that this year’s World Food Day Celebration coincided with the 70^th anniversary of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and 40^th anniversary of its existence in Nigeria in which the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in collaboration with the National Agriculture Foundation of Nigeria and All Farmers Association of Nigeria showcase the National Agricultural potentials to mark the celebration.

In his address at the occasion, the Country Representative of the United Nation Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Nigeria, Mr. Suffyan Koroma, stated that the concept of Zero Hunger is broader and not limited to the fight against undernourishment, asit also aims to provide people with the necessary nutrients for a healthy life.

The Country Representative who saw the FAO agenda of Zero Hunger in 2030 which is aimed at eradication of hunger and ensure sustainable development,disclosed that global hunger has rapidly grown in recent time, adding thatthe latest estimates of undernourished people in the World increased in 2017, for the third consecutive year. He said last year, 821 million people suffered from hunger (11 percent of the World population- one in nine people on the planet), most of them are farmers living in poor rural areas of sub-Saharan African and Southeast Asia; the FAO agenda of  Zero Hunger in 2030 will eradicate hunger and ensure sustainable development globally.

The National President of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Arc. Kabiru Ibrahim in his goodwill message, appreciated the efforts of the Ministry in making this year’s event a successful one, adding that farmers are ecstatic and encourage to do their utmost best to ensure actualization of food security and sustainable development. He stated,that the country was to make bomber harvest despite flooding experience in many parts of the country this year.