To curb the growing number of unemployed youths in the country, Antiabong Okon Ekong, a professor of agricultural education at the University of Uyo (UNIUYO), Akwa Ibom State, has made a case for the youths to embrace agriculture.
He said the sector with its huge potential has the answer to the prevailing job challenges in the country.
Ekong, a former commissioner for education under former governor, Obong Victor Attah (2003 – 2005), gave this recipe while presenting the 96th in the series of the inaugural lectures of the institution held at the main campus auditorium, Nwaniba, Uyo, the state capital.
He argued that it was time the youths, especially graduates reinvent themselves by bringing their ingenuity to bear in the area of agriculture for independence and self-sustainability instead of idling away in search of white- collar jobs.
The Ibiono Ibom – born academic, who spoke on the theme; “Multidimensional Application of Agricultural Education In Psycho – Productive Skills Development of Clienteles for Sustainable Livelihood,” averred that “psycho – productive skills in youths and adults for focused engagement in chosen agriculture vocations is a sure way to sustainable livelihood and a percussor to all – round development of Nigeria.”
He, therefore, urged the relevant agencies of government including the Ministries of Education, Labour and Productivity as well as Youths Development, to “establish a well coordinated Agricultural Skills Training Centres (ASTC) for skills training and re- training for youths and adults who may opt for agricultural vocations as their sustainable means of livelihood.”
“The relevant organs of governments at the federal, state and local government should provide incentives to youths and adults who are into farming, or would want to, as take – off grants, packages or soft loans for investment in agriculture.
“Ministries of Education at all levels should by legislation encourage the establishment of agricultural/farming clubs in schools, and in communities to stimulate preliminary interest development in youths to go into agriculture.
“In communities, adult agricultural self – help organisations should be encouraged with finance for agricultural enterprise development,” he stressed, adding that special desks in the ministries of education should be created and dedicated for the coordination of youths – in – agricultural programmes,” he said.
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