By Uzor Odigbo
As Nigeria’s future depends on the effective participation of Youth in Agriculture, the SWEEP Foundation President, Ambassador Philip Obuesi has said.
In a statement on Friday, he called on the Federal Government to quickly replace the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) with the National Youth Farmers Corps (NYFC)
“We call on the federal government to take decisive action and empower our youth to become the agricultural leaders of tomorrow”
Obuesi made this call in Lagos having realised the need for all hands especially, the youth population to engage in Agriculture for rapid growth and Empowerment of Youth in Agriculture
He said,”As our nation grapples with the pressing issues of hunger and food insecurity, we urge the federal government to take bold action. To address these challenges, we propose two options”.
He suggested the replacement of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme with the National Youth Farmers Corps or in the alternative, Integrate a National Youth Farmers Corps programme into the existing NYSC activities to advance the cause of Agriculture in Nigeria.
He said: “By harnessing the energy and enthusiasm of our graduating youth, we can direct them towards agriculture and farming. Imagine the impact of over two million youth farmers contributing to our national GDP annually,” said Obuesi.
According to him, “This initiative will not only address food security but also provide employment opportunities, stimulate economic growth, and ensure a sustainable future for our nation