Business
Association Urges Foreign Firms To Invest In Agric
The African Young
Farmers Association (AYFA) has called on the foreign companies and multinationals to invest in the country’s agricultural sector.
The National President of the association, Mr Bakare Oladimeji, made the call in interview with newsmen in Abuja on Monday at the sideline of the World Food Day celebration.
Oladimeji said that Nigerian government needed serious international and multinational intervention in the sector.
He appealed to all the multinational companies operating in Nigeria and all the corporate organisations, to play a role in reducing hunger and poverty in the country.
“Unemployment is ravaging the entire nation, and hungry population is an angry population.
“Peace and peaceful co-existence is being threatened and crime rate is on the increase; we should not allow the situation to remain or even deteriorate,’’ he said.
He explained that there are potentials in Nigeria’s agriculture, mining and other sectors of the economy.
The association’s president stressed the need for more investment in rural roads, agricultural equipment among others.
“They should help us to create jobs and boost means of livelihood through agriculture and it will be better for us all.
“We are also calling on Nigerians in Diaspora that there are so many opportunities in agriculture, especially in food processing and storage of agric produce.
“Please come and support the ongoing efforts of the present administration to save Nigerians from hunger and to create good wealth and job opportunities.
“Come and join us to make Nigeria a better place for all,’’ he pleaded.
AYFA leader added that the association was keenly committed to nation’s building through agriculture, youth development and empowerment.
“ We have accepted the responsibility of charting a new course for the new generation of farmers and agric entrepreneurs and we will not rest on our oars until the desirable changes Nigerians yearn for are achieved.
“ AYFA are not deterred by the enormousness of burden of this national assignment, we consider it as an opportunity to contribute a significant quota to the efforts toward repositioning Nigeria to its rightful place.
“ Our strength and solace will be derived from goodwill of our people as well as the unrestricted outpouring of support from well meaning Nigerians,’’ he said.
He said that the association has designed and developed a lot of agricultural programmers with great capacities to create jobs and financially empower the youth.