Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
As part of efforts to proffer solution to the biting economic hardship and hunger in the land, Agricultural and Industrial Entrepreneurs of Nigeria (AIEN), said it was in talks with the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) to create 10 million jobs through agriculture.
This, according to the National President of AIEN, and former Director General of National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Chief Chuku Wachuku, will not only provide lucrative jobs for the teeming youths but also help crash crime wave.
Chief Wachuku regretted that Nigeria is suffering in the midst of plenty due to neglect and inadequate investments in the critical agric sector.
The empowerment Economist who spoke on the heels of his recent meeting with the National President of ALGON, Alhaji Aminu Muazu, described the meeting as very fruitful.
“ALGON saw us as valuable partners and we agreed to partner in the vision,” Wachuku said.
He explained that both associations would leverage on their national spread and presence in the 774 Local Government Areas in the country, to engage in massive investment in the agric sector.
According to him, focus will be on staple crops which each LGA has comparative advantage in producing.
He said lack of interest in agriculture was the major reason “hunger is ravaging the country.”
“There is no land in Nigeria that isn’t productive. The main reason we have inflation is because of low investment in agriculture. So, we have so much money chasing few available products.”
On how to generate the 10 million jobs, Wachuku disclosed that 1000 youths would be trained and engaged in each of the 774 LGAs, who would in turn engage about 11 others in a planting season.
“Employment creation must be private sector driven. That’s the reason Government is not succeeding in good intentioned interventions.
“If we engage 744,000 people in farming and each person engages 11 additional persons in a particular farming season, you already have 8,514,000 jobs. It’s not rocket science. This is what we are set to do and it will happen. It’s going to be a combination of public sector engagement to create jobs.”
Chief Wachuku commended ALGON for showing interest in the project, describing the current leadership of the association as “visionary and enterprising.”
“I commend the visionary leadership of the present ALGON. For the first time ALGON National Executives not only wish to be in transition, but want to create empowerment and wealth for their members nationwide.
“Our views are aligned, we will engage more and partner to solve Nigeria’s food insecurity through massive investment in agriculture across the 774 LGAs.”
The former national President of Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists, NASSI, urged youths to embrace commercial agriculture for wealth creation.
According to him, a lot of opportunities and wealth are locked in the agric sector.
Wachuku expressed optimism that Nigeria would become a leading exporter of farm produce in the West African sub-region with adequate attention and investment in agriculture.
