*says its time to diversify NIgeria’s economy from oil to agriculture
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
The Senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District, Senator Kola Balogun has said that it is time to diversify NIgeria’s economy from the oil reliance to the agricultural sector.Senator Balogun who stated this in Ibadan on Monday at a training workshop for 1,130 women and youths in his constituency as part of his empowerment programme,
He pointed out that with the fall in the oil market, there is the need to take into agriculture as the mainstay of Nigeria economy, adding that to ensure this, the government on its part to resolve into encouraging Nigerians particularly the youths into farming through provision of incentives.
The Senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District stressed that with agriculture, Nigeria economy stand to be one of the best, adding that his empowerment programme on its part was fashioned towards promoting agriculture in his constituency and the country at large .
In doing this, Senator Balogun said his empowerment programme which is n the agricultural sector has been in conjunction with the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, (IAR&T), Moor Plantation Ibadan for training and better exposure in their various areas of concentration.
Specifically, Senator Balogun emphasized that there is need for youths across the country to be empowered in check mating the current economic realities in the country.
He stated that through training from experts from the IAR&T the beneficiaries particularly the youths will be in a better position to utilise their training in the various agricultural sector in becoming self sustaining rather than looking for a white collar job which is nowhere.
According to the Senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District, going by the current economic realities, it is glaring that empowerment programmes, most especially in the agricultural sector will help to reduce the rate of unemployment among youths.
Senator Balogun then tasked the private sector on the need to encourage Nigerian youths to be produce more and that government should invest in infrastructural development to have a productive economy in Nigeria.
Earlier while declaring the workshop open, Senator Balogun called on Nigerians to continue praying for their leaders in their quest to be a good leader and move the country forward,saying the people of Oyo state should be praying for Governor Seyi Makinde for the good leadership the governor has been providing.
“God so much loves Oyo State with Governor Seyi Makinde, it is glaring that he is the best so far for the state,” he said.
Senator Balogun stressed that the empowerment programme was meant to support was Governor Seyi Makinde in the provision of better welfare for the people of Oyo state.
The Executive Director of IAR&T , Professor Veronica Obatolu represented by the Deputy Director of the Institute, Dr Jelili Olaide Saka said the institute is at all times ready to train Nigerians in the field of agriculture so as to boost food production and self sustaining through agriculture.
Dr Saka while stressing that IAR&T is into agriculture, research on soil, seeds of maize, beans hinted that the Institute recently came up with the introduction of new varieties of beans, maize and others to the Nigerian farmers.
He then urged Nigerians to join hands in ensuring that the country’s economy is salvaged
