The founder, Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to revive the moribund farm settlements in the country to revitalise the country’s economy.
Babalola lamented that governments at all levels were not doing enough in the agricultural sector, saying Nigeria which used to be one of the leading exporters of cocoa and palm oil had lost its place due to neglect of the agric sector.
He said revamping the moribund farm settlements in different regions of the country would boost food security, and agricultural production for local consumption and export and also provide raw materials for industries.
The ABUAD founder spoke in Ado Ekiti on Thursday while disclosing his selection as the 2024 African Man of the Year in Food Security by the Initiative for Green Sustainability in view of his premium on the promotion of agriculture and invoking students’ interest in agriculture.
He said the award, coming from a group committed to promoting interest in agriculture and emphasising the importance of food security, “is a call on me to do more in contributing to the development of the country, which, of course, includes agriculture.”
Babalola recalled how the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, as premier of the defunct Western Region, promoted agriculture through farm settlements to boost the region’s revenue base which ensured the building of critical infrastructures and institutions that have continued to be the pride of the the South-West.
He called on governments to passionately consider the revival of the farm settlement to rediscover the country’s dying agricultural potential, saying such would “also create job opportunities for the unemployed youths in the country and as well reduce the level of insecurity to the barest minimum”.
Babalola called for increased annual budgetary allocations to the agriculture sector, which he said had the potential to lead millions of Nigerians out of poverty and provide food security.
He equally stressed that the government must, as a matter of urgency, implement sustainable policies and provide modern farm implements, improved seedlings and soft loans to make agriculture more attractive so that the youths would develop interest in it.
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