A human rights activist in Rivers State, Dr. Chris Dimkpa, has emphasized that the vision of President Bola Tinubu and the 36 state governors is to ensure that Nigerian youths become successful entrepreneurs in agriculture.Speaking with newsmen recently in Bori, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area, on the need to encourage Nigerian youths to venture into agriculture, Dimkpa called on the Federal Government to reposition the agricultural sector to its lost glory.
He stressed that the Ministry of Agriculture must be prepared to transform Nigerian farmers into agribusiness entrepreneurs.“The Federal Ministry of Agriculture is expected to transform the farmer into an entrepreneur. Nigeria used to be a major player in the world of agriculture. In the 1960s, we had glory, and we, as a people, are about to revamp that status in Nigeria,” he emphasized.Dr. Dimkpa reiterated that it has always been the vision of the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure that Nigerian youths become successful entrepreneurs in the sector.
He urged President Tinubu and the state governors to take a strong stance in addressing and encouraging Nigerian youths to embrace agriculture as a path to economic diversification, foreign exchange earnings, employment creation, wealth generation, and improved living standards.Furthermore, he disclosed that the Ministry of Agriculture must effectively translate President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda into a strategic plan for the survival and transformation of the agricultural sector.
He stressed the need for a medium- and short-term roadmap that would turn agriculture into a vibrant engine of growth and accelerated national development.“We, as a people, had the Green Alternative, which is our roadmap for agriculture,” he noted.Dr. Dimkpa added that President Tinubu’s goal for the sector should be to build an agro-based economy capable of massive food production for the populace.
He also emphasized the need for multidimensional support for Nigerian youths, enabling them to become agricultural entrepreneurs.“As mentioned by Mr. President and as currently reflected in the roadmap, the goal should be to build an agro-business sector where young entrepreneurs can thrive and become prosperous agriculture experts,” he said.He urged the government to set the necessary machinery in motion to actualize this vision proactively, ensuring sustainable economic growth and national stability.
