The Nigerian Government has
introduced the “Youth in Agriculture” initiative to bolster Agribusiness in Nigeria, the Honorable Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Akinwunmi Adesina has disclosed.
He said it at a Foundation Day lecture at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, speaking on how he expects the initiative to encourage more skilled farmers, and change the ideology of majority about agriculture.
He said, “These will be farmers of the future, under mechanized agriculture, who will make Nigeria’s agriculture competitive for decades into the future. Agriculture is changing rapidly. Today, only countries that move into commercial agriculture and agriculture as business have a chance compete. We must change the way we train students, what we train them and what we prepare them for.”
“Look at any profession, lawyers practice law because they were prepared for it; doctors practice medicine, they were prepared for it, but the agriculture graduate does not practice agriculture. They run from it, they look for jobs in other sectors.”
“We must train our students to become job creators and not job hunters. The Faculties of Agriculture and the Universities of Agriculture need to change their curriculum to be in line with the realities of the labour market and prepare students with practical technical and business skills they need to set up agribusinesses.”
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This article was first published on 21st May 2013
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The Nigerian Government has introduced the “Youth in Agriculture” initiative to bolster Agribusiness in Nigeria, the Honorable Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Akinwunmi Adesina has disclosed.
He said it at a Foundation Day lecture at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, speaking on how he expects the initiative to encourage more skilled farmers, and change the ideology of majority about agriculture.
He said, “These will be farmers of the future, under mechanized agriculture, who will make Nigeria’s agriculture competitive for decades into the future. Agriculture is changing rapidly. Today, only countries that move into commercial agriculture and agriculture as business have a chance compete. We must change the way we train students, what we train them and what we prepare them for.”
“Look at any profession, lawyers practice law because they were prepared for it; doctors practice medicine, they were prepared for it, but the agriculture graduate does not practice agriculture. They run from it, they look for jobs in other sectors.”
“We must train our students to become job creators and not job hunters. The Faculties of Agriculture and the Universities of Agriculture need to change their curriculum to be in line with the realities of the labour market and prepare students with practical technical and business skills they need to set up agribusinesses.”
