FG reiterates commitment to food security, job creation

Nigeria's Federal Government is doubling down on its commitment to enhance food security and generate employment by prioritizing agriculture and livestock development. Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, emphasized this dedication at the second International Conference of the Agrifood Systems Stakeholders Forum in Port Harcourt.

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Our agrifood systems are under growing pressure from climate variability, flooding, drought, land degradation and rising input costs.

Maiha, represented by Victor Egbon, Director of Ruminant and Monogastric Development, urged for sustained collaboration among stakeholders to bolster the national livestock development agenda. He believes this initiative will significantly boost agricultural output, create jobs, and restore public trust in the sector. The government is actively working to overcome obstacles such as limited access to skills, finance, infrastructure, and markets.

Despite acknowledging pressures from climate change, rising input costs, animal diseases, and post-harvest losses, Maiha sees these challenges as opportunities. He stated that the goal is to build more productive, inclusive, and climate-resilient agrifood systems that provide decent employment for women and young people. The livestock value chain, in particular, offers substantial business prospects in areas like feed production, hatcheries, dairy collection, animal health services, and waste management.

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Within these challenges lies a compelling opportunity to build agrifood systems that are more productive, inclusive and climate-resilient, while creating decent jobs for women and young people.

University of Port Harcourt Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Princewill Chike, echoed the sentiment, describing agriculture as a key solution to brain drain and youth migration. He called on the government and policymakers to make agriculture more appealing to young people to combat the "Japa" syndrome, a term referring to the mass emigration of Nigerians. He commended President Bola Tinubu's administration for its focus on agriculture and stressed the importance of policy sustainability.

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The government and policymakers must make agriculture more attractive to youths to address the ‘Japa’ syndrome.