FG Urged To Empower youths On Agro-preneurship To Tackle Food Insecurity

A non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Young Entrepreneurs and Innovators Foundation (YEI Foundation), has called on the federal government to empower youths in Agro-partnership to tackle Food Insecurity in the country.

The president of the YEI Foundation, Abraham Eshioramhe Ofeoshi, made the call yesterday in Abuja during the International Entrepreneurship Day celebration.

The theme was Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Panacea to rising food prices in Nigeria.”

He emphasised that World Entrepreneurship Day is observed every year to recognise and award potent entrepreneurs who have made a sustainable impact on the growth of the Economy.

Ofeoshi added that this year’s theme, “Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Panacea to rising food prices in Nigeria, calls for the federal government to empower youths by providing a conducive environment for Agro-partnership Innovation and use of scientific approach to tackle unemployment and food insecurity in the country.

He said, “With the recent high percentage of unemployed youth in the country, the federal government needs to provide the enabling ground for agro-preneurship innovation to thrive, enhance youth employment, and reduce the high cost of food in the country.

He also said that Agro-partnership Innovation would encourage youths to venture into manufacturing and businesses, producing more entrepreneurs and enhancing economic growth and sustainable development in the country.

On his part, the Managing Director of Shirawa Laboratories and General Enterprises, Ahmad Baba Shirawa, who doubled as a keynote speaker and recipient of the YEI 2024 award, represented by Mallam Ahmad Muhammed Sule, said that the government need to provide viable and sustainable Agricultural policies, with implementation agenda to exit the economic downturn in the country.

He stressed the incapability of youths and entrepreneurs to thrive in the agricultural industry due to high interest rates on loans and a lack of viable government policies.

He urged youths to become entrepreneurs in agriculture and use innovative technology to reduce the country‘s rising food costs.