The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna, said there will be a training of over 3,700 youths in the six geo-political zones on modern farming with its technologies.
He said the scheme will cover modern farming, agricultural processing, production and preservation.
He said the training would be in line with the implementation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to introduce modern farming techniques.
Haruna spoke at the flag-off of the programme in Birnin Kebbi in Kebbi State for the Northwest.
He said 100 youths from the six geo-political zones are to benefit from the technical interventions and empowerment programme by the agency.
He said: “President Muhammadu Buhari specifically directed the Executive Vice Chairman/CE of NASENI, Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna, to empower 100 youths or indigenes in the 36 States of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory by deploying some of the technologies on the shelves of the agency.
“We will focus specifically on modern farming, agricultural processing, production and preservation.”
He said the President was “keen on the economic diversification of the country in the direction of Agriculture.”
Haruna added: “This exercise was a mission accomplished and a sign of the seriousness of the administration to empower the youths and also to lift Nigeria’s agriculture away from mere subsistence.”
He said all developed countries began with agriculture and later became great because they introduced modern techniques, science and innovations into practice in their journey to industrialisation.
Kebbi State Governor Atiku Abubakar Bagudu commended the President for promoting agriculture to guarantee food security.
He said the training will help farmers in modern farming methods and improve their skills.
Bagudu urged the trainees to be good ambassadors and make the most of the training.
“I thank NASENI Executive Vice Chairman and chief executive, the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of Federation for making the programme a reality,” he said.
He said the state will “reciprocate the good things the President has done for the good people of Kebbi State, by making Kebbi be a Rice Revolution State.”
He added: “Buhari has provided us with three institutions including the University of Agriculture in Zuru. He has also approved Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Development Institute. NASENI is also to provide Skills Acquisition Centre for Science and Engineering Technology.”
Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Mallami (SAN), expressed appreciation for the scheme in Kebbi and other geopolitical zones.
He said the decision of the Federal Government to implement the scheme was to “reduce poverty and not to make youth to be redundant in their societies.
“You see the programme will empower youths, most especially the farmers. The programme came when the people needed it.
“I appreciate the efforts of the Kebbi State Governor for his contribution towards promoting agriculture to turn the Kebbi to a Rice revolution state,” he added.