Business
Stakeholders Urge FG To Encourage Private Sector
The Chief Executive Of
ficer, West Africa Exhibition and Conferences, Dr Kune Igoni, has urged the Federal Government to create enabling environment for the private sector to participate in the nation’s development.
Igoni gave the advice in an interview with newsmen on Wednesday on the sideline of the 2nd Agribusiness Trade Show and Conference in Abuja.
According to him, the business of government is to encourage foreign and local investments and ensure smooth implementation of policies.
Igoni said Nigeria is not a small country in term of human resources, saying that the private sector should not be underestimated but encouraged to create jobs for the populace.
Earlier during his presentation, Dr Adebisi-Adelani Oluyemisi, a Research Officer at the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHOT), Ibadan, stressed the need to encourage small holder farmers in the country.
She said farmers should be consulted and their input seriously taken into account before any research or project is implemented for their benefit.
Oluyemisi said small holder farmers also have their dreams and aspirations, which should be respected by all stakeholders like policy makers, project initiators and implementer.
“Farmers should be consulted no matter how good the intention of a project or research work might be; do not think for them for they have their own dreams and aspirations.
“Do not just dump projects, rather put the farmers first; all research works or project must be based on the farmer’s needs; only then we can be sure of sustainability on the long run after the project is over.
“Hamornisation of all stakeholders’ views is necessary and paramount for agricultural development in the country,’’ she said.