IFAD President Okays NigerianYouths’ Participation In Agric

The President of International
Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Dr Kanayo Nwanze, says he is impressed with the rate of youth involvement in agriculture.
Nwanze made the remark in an interview with newsmen in Egborode, Warri South Local Government area of Delta State, describing the development as a guaranteed future for Nigeria.
‘’I do not remember any country I have visited where young graduates are tired of waiting for government jobs and themselves engaging in agricultural activities and economic opportunities.
‘’Nigeria is the largest country in Africa; in every five Africans, one is a Nigerian. Nigeria has a bulging youth population that is unemployed and agriculture can serve as a platform for them to grow their business in more than one agricultural activities.
‘’I do believe that IFAD will be very happy to be associated with the government and people of Nigeria and I’m very impressed at what the IFAD team is doing in Nigeria and particularly in the Niger Delta.
He said that the IFAD believed that when it invested in people, they would invest in the future of humanity.
Nwanze added that the achievement of the project so far in the region was the successful use of the resources.
‘’We have seen youths that are very hopeful, they see a future; they see a possibility of making money, making it the right way.
‘’That is the reason why I’m so delighted that we were able to extend this project — Community-Based Natural Resource Management Programme — for another two years to give the possibility of achieving its final objectives,’’ Nwanze said.
The president, who had earlier visited the Liberty fish farm, Ekpan, in Uvwie local government area of the state, told NAN that he was impressed with the farm, its organisational structure and the breeding process.
‘’I think it confirms that the hope of Nigeria is actually the youth.’’
Earlier, Mr Henry Ogbodu, the President of Uvwie Fish farmers’ Multipurpose Cooperative Society, Ekpan, who conducted Nwanze round the fish farm, explained that the cooperative was made up of 6,000 fish farmers in six clusters.
He said that the clusters were Ekpan phase I and II, Ogboroke phase I and II, DDPA, Agadaga, White House and New Layout.
Ogbodu said that the fish farming activities started in 2005 as subsistence fish farming but had grown into a commercial venture over the years through the assistance of NGOs and the government.
“Over the years, we have provided jobs for over 2,000 youths both men and women in different enterprises.
“They range from pond construction, fingerling production, fish production, local fish feed production and fish processing to marketing within our locality, thereby reducing the rate of poverty and unemployment in our locality.
“It is our hope and belief that in the nearest future, this figure will be doubled.
“We also save the fish mongers the risk of travelling into the riverine and deep seas in search of catfish which is no longer available in our waters due to environmental pollution,” Ogbodu said