Ibadan – Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday advised Nigerians and governments to give priority to agriculture business .
Chief Obasanjo who made the call while delivering the maiden Eminent Persons Business Lecture, titled “Agribusiness: TIME TO ACT IS NOW” organised by the University of Ibadan School of Business in partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan as a guest lecturer , said that by the time both the people and various governments in the country involved in agriculture business the problem of food insecurity would be over .
He was of the view that the fall in prices of oil at the world market has continued to contribute negatively to our economy as businesses day by day collapse .
He then maintained that to overcome these challenges , all hands must be on deck to practically embrace agriculture and not just on papers.
While highlighting the importance of agriculture in the areas of economic growth and development as well as wealth creation , the former President deposed that without icing words , agribusiness has potentials to stimulate industrialisation and economic growth.
He stated that with the trend of events in food production in Nigeria , much attention must be given to agriculture at the high level of government and incorporate all departments, ministries and government agencies in agricultural sector and not just leaving the Ministry of Agriculture to make their responsibilities complementary and not competitive.
Obasanjo continued by saying adequate infrastructure must be provided for storage and transportation of agricultural produce.
On the involvement of youths and the unemployed in the agriculture business,he noted that “Agri business must be attractive to youths and students should be encouraged towards the promotion
of agriculture in the country .
Said he : “We have to glamorise Agri- business and that is why I say wherever I go I called myself a farmer, if a former President can call himself a farmer why can’t we call ourselves farmers .
“Adequate support must be given to agriculture to search for innovation, we must give incentives to farmers. ”
The former President also po sited that there must be constituency in government policy formation and ensure its sustainability.
Chief Obasanjo who concluded that the individuals and private sector cannot succeed in agriculture without government support , therefore solicited full support of government at all levels to practically embrace and encourage agriculture.
“Your excellences and Ladies and gentlemen, let me conclude that while agric business cannot be practice without government support, a good policy must be put in place to support and encourage agriculture.
Governor Abiola Ajimobi of the state who was represented by the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development, Prince Oyewole Oyewumi , said that the lecture was timely in view of the efforts of the state government to diversify the economy through agriculture.
