The Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo on Wednesday stressed the need for Nigerian youths to embrace agriculture as the best panacea for overcoming challenges of unemployment, as well as food security for the country.
Oba Gbadebo, who described the level of youth unemployment and the current high prices of food items in the country as worrisome, emphatically stated that the youth can bring about a turnaround by redirecting energy into various farming enterprises.
The Ogun monarch made this call while speaking with journalists at his Ake Palace in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, ahead of the 2025 Lisabi Festival celebration, which is scheduled to run between March 31st and April 6th.
“This theme is intentional as we want to use this year’s celebration to draw the attention of our people, especially our youth, to the need to explore the abundant opportunities in agriculture.
“It is unacceptable for a country like Nigeria with its vast arable land not to be able to feed itself but rely heavily on food importation.
“Our youths should consider engaging in farming rather than roaming the street, then the issue of unemployment would have been reasonably addressed”.
Speaking further on the Lisabi Festival; the annual traditional festival that always bring eminent sons and daughters of Egbaland together, Alake disclosed that the second Alake of Egbaland, Oba Ladapo Idowu Ademola, who reigned for 42 years has been chosen as the hero for the year 2025 Lisabi Festival celebration themed: “Back To Land: Panacea For Food Sustainability And Youth Employment In Egbaland.
“Let me reiterate that Lisabi Festival remains a vibrant rallying point for all Egba sons and daughters both home and in the diasporas to celebrate our richly endowed culture and bring to bear qualitative development in Egbaland,’’ he said.
