2 months ago
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Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun
The Ogun State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Bolu Owotomo, has reiterated the commitment of the Dapo Abiodun administration to increase food production while turning the state into the food basket of the nation.
Owotomo has also urged the youth to channel their energy into productive ventures such as agriculture, stating that their contributions to achieving food security in the country, especially with the deployment of modern technology, cannot be overemphasised.
The Commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs Kehinde Jokotoye, made this call on Saturday during the graduation of 1,000 trainees from the Soilless Farm Laboratory in Awowo, located in the Ewekoro Local Government Area of the state.
Owotomo stated that with the abundant fertile land and the adequate support of all stakeholders, Nigeria has everything it needs to feed its growing population and export the surplus.
He said, “As youth bubbling with so much energy, you should go out there and use the technological know-how acquired here during your training to boost food production.
“You have many years ahead of you; put into practice all that you have been taught here, and you will not only help create employment opportunities for others but also make a significant difference in our country’s journey towards achieving food sufficiency.”
Owotomo added that for the 63 participants who are indigenes of the state, the government had made arrangements to support them with land, seedlings, and other inputs while also linking them to financial organisations that could assist them.
He said, “Today, we have 63 graduates who are indigenes of our dear state. The government will support them just as we have done for the previous cohort, who have now been organised into a company.
“We will provide them with land and seedlings and continue to build their capacity while connecting them to financial opportunities, such as grants and other support.”
The Head of Corporate Communication at Soilless Farm, Grace Enoidem, disclosed that the farm, with the support of the MasterCard Foundation, trains 1,000 people quarterly in Soilless farming technology.
Enoidem stated that the quarterly training provides a valuable platform to produce more soilless farmers who will also help train others, all aimed at achieving food sufficiency in the country and Africa.
She encouraged the graduates to put into practice all that they had learned and to be worthy ambassadors of the organisation wherever they find themselves.
One of the beneficiaries, Aliu Saliu, described the training as transformative, saying that it served as an eye-opener for him and others on the application of technology to improve agricultural practices.
