The Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has revealed that Nigeria spends about $30 billion annually on food importation, saying that the Federal Government is taking steps to halt the trend. The Minister disclosed this at the University of Ilorin last Thursday (June 2, 2016), while delivering a goodwill message at the 13th Children and Youths in Agriculture Programme (CYIAP).

Chief Ogbeh, who was represented by a Director in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. A. Efuntoye, said it is the government's desire to stem this importation that is creating jobs for people of other nations while Nigerian youths wallow in unemployment.

He disclosed that the average age of farmers in Nigeria is 65 years, meaning that very soon, if nothing changes, nobody will be left to farm. Consequently, government has reached agreement with African Development Bank (ADB) to secure $300 million in the next five years for youth empowerment programme, the Minister said, adding, "When Nigerian banks join the fray, we expect about $1.5billion credit facilities for about 85,000 Nigerian youths". Chief Ogbeh said, "Also, the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) is being reformed. Government will ultimately hands-off. It will be fully owned by Nigerian farmers. When we finish the reforms, you will not need collateral to take loans and interest rate will be about 5 per cent. We are working to see farmers' groups and associations owning and managing it themselves".

The Minister further explained that "to qualify for credit facility under the Youth Empowerment in Agriculture Scheme, one needs to attend a Youth Investor Incubation Programme, saying that "the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, has been designated for such purpose" and that interested universities with Faculty of Agriculture can also be allowed to train youths to access this credit. During the internship training, he pointed out, each participant will be paid a stipend but upon graduation, they will be given as much as $50,000-$100,000 each to start the business of their choice. "This is a loan and will be repaid", Chief Ogbeh said, adding that "monitoring will be strict".

In a Keynote address on the occasion, the Emir of Shonga, His Royal Highness Dr. Haliru Ndanusa Yahaya, told the audience, comprising students and teachers of Agriculture from the University of Ilorin, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife; the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), and the University of Maiduguri, that they would be lucky if one in a million of them get job the month he leaves the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

"You are never too young to lead", Dr. Haliru told them, pointing to the fact that General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) became Head of State at the age of 32 years while General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd) also started ruling the nation when he was only 36 years old". Leadership is about opportunities, he stressed again adding that luck does not work for the unprepared.

The Keynote speaker urged stakeholders to answer questions like, what reforms do we need in Agriculture? Where are the youths to do it? Can we profile the youths? Attempting to answer the posers, the highly respected Emir who himself is a farmer, said, "There is a disconnect between today's youths who is more educated than the older generation, more ICT savvy, blogging, texting, pinging, communicating with people of foreign lands and their culture, parents and older generation who they don't communicate with".

"We need to dignify labour. We need to encourage volunteerism. Modern Agriculture should be pure business and made attractive to coming generations who have other options in various professional fields", he said. In his goodwill message, the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfattah Ahmed, enjoined youths in the country to take advantage of the agricultural programmes that have been put in place by the state government.

Governor Ahmed, who was represented by the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Adegoke Bamidele, stated that Kwara State in one of the leading states in the promotion of agriculture amongst youths. Citing some programmes and infrastructure that have been developed, the Governor pointed out that a youth integrated farm has been established at Malete, where youths are trained by the state government.

He added that a vocational centre has also been established at Ajase-Ipo to train youths in the area of skill acquisition and to encourage them to take agriculture as a business and urged youths to participate actively in these programmes. While welcoming guests to the occasion, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof AbdulGaniyu Ambali (OON), who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof N. Y. S. Ijaiya, said, "Change is a magical word in Nigeria today. The challenge is what change?"

"Change is here with us already. If government is fighting corruption and is wining, change has started", she noted, adding that change is about changing our mind-set not only in one area of life but also when it comes to revenue generation, youth engagement and employment. The Vice-Chancellor counselled that youths must accept the fact that the civil service is already overflowing. The private sector is the real sector and agriculture presents limitless opportunities.

Earlier on Wednesday, June 1, 2016, students of secondary schools within Ilorin City competed in an Agricultural quiz competition and winners were awarded prizes. Iqra College came first, Floral Schools, second while both Eucharistic Hearts of Jesus Christ and Minaret School jointly placed third. Also, founder and pioneer President of CYIAP, Prof. Samson Fola Adedoyin and Chairman/CEO of Shelters Aluminum, Ilorin, Mr. Sanni Hussain Ibrahim, were recognized for special awards.

Other Principal Officers, who accompanied Prof. Ijaiya to the occasion, included the University Librarian, Dr J.O. Omoniyi, and the Deputy Registrar (Establishment), Mr M.S. Adegoke, who represented the Registrar.