Oba Olugbenle charges the youth on agriculture

By; NIYI OGUNGBOLA, Abeokuta.
The Chairman, Ogun State Council of Obas, the Olu of Ilaro and Paramount ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle has charged youths in the country to embrace agriculture as a profitable enterprise towards becoming self employed.
According to him, it is right Nigeria youhts devote their time to agriculture rather than seeking for white collar jobs that are not available.
The monarch gave this charge while playing host to members of Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) Ogun Chapter to commemorate the World Egg Day at his palace in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area of the state.
Oba Olugbenle said agriculture remained a major factor to address the present economic situation in the country  adding that the business had various value chains that could attract huge revenue and generate lots of employment opportunities for the youth.
“Poultry business is a viable agric business that brings about good profit on daily basis when compared to the office job that young graduates are running after today. It is a business that can generate thousand of job for our youths both graduates and non-graduates’’ Olugbenle said.
 
While urging government at all levels to further encourage youths to develop interest in agric business, Oba Olugbenle said they should be properly enlightened on the need to go back to the basis by prioritising agriculture.
He said that apart from government’s role in providing the wherewithal for the development of agriculture, Poultry Association of Nigeria should also embark on public sensitization on the need for all to embrace it as veritable tool for socio-economic empowerment.
 
Responding, the Chairman of the Association in Ogun State, Dr. Lekan Odunsi said that the shortfall in foreign exchange rate has raised the price of feeds for birds in the poultry business, adding that drugs and vaccines for birds’ treatment and diseases control were also out of stock.
 
Dr. Odunsi assured the monarch of the association’s commitment to encourage the youth in agro-business to reduce the rate of unemployment and ensure food security.