• As Obasanjo, Osinbajo, address food security
….AfDB’ll invest $24bn in agric –Adesina
From Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan
Former military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, has assured that Nigeria will not disintegrate in spite of virulent agitation by some groups across the country.
“I am not scared for the unity of the nation. I have confidence in Nigeria and the youths of this country that they will make sure that they take over and do better than we left for them. I have no fear about all these ranting and so on. No. I have confidence that the youths of this nation will keep Nigeria going and make it greater. Diversity is our source of unity and strength.
He spoke at the 50th anniversary celebration of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan, Oyo State and the commissioning of the $700,000 Akinwumi A. Adesina Agripreneurs Building, a training facility for capacity development for youth agripreneurs funded by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and IITA.
The former military leader said young people must be encouraged to get involved in agriculture.
“The average age of farmers in Nigeria is 60, soon they will pass on and that includes me. We have to encourage the younger ones to be interested in agriculture so that they can take over from the older generation that have been feeding the nation. This is what happens in Europe, America and China today and we must encourage it in Nigeria.”
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, enjoined IITA to partner with Nigeria in dealing with new challenges confronting the country.
“These are new and very serious existentialist issues in Nigeria and indeed all of Africa. The first and most urgent is that of the population bulge.
“At over three per cent growth per annum, we are reportedly heading for 450 million persons by 2050. That places Nigeria in the third place after China and India, and in a world of nine billion humans, that means Nigeria alone is five per cent of the world’s population.
“But feeding 450 million is tough though not impossible. If China and India did it, we too can. So as we move on, we must reflect on the challenge of quantity of output and quality of consumption. And to achieve this, we urge you to engage in research, more research and even more research.
“You have to commercialise the results of your research. You have to create subsidiaries as it is done in India. These companies can then multiply your findings and market them for larger application,” Osinbajo, who was represented on the occasion by Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, said.
Obasanjo, who is IITA Goodwill Ambassador, expressed regret that Africa has not realised its own special Green Revolution, modelled on increased production, in an environment of sustainability, food security and overall wealth creation and employment generation.
“The food import bill of Africa has remained ridiculously high, hovering around $35billion per annum. This, to say the least, is not only unacceptable, but also unpardonable. Food demand is projected to rise by at least 20 per cent globally over the next 15 years, with the largest increases anticipated in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and East Asia.
“If nothing is done, the food import bill for Africa will continue to shoot up even higher. Africa needs to embark on a path of agricultural transformation that makes agriculture the real engine for growth in economic development of African countries.”
Obasanjo said African countries must increase their investment in all aspects of agriculture, bridge the link between research and development, have strategies of engaging and supporting women farmers in a more significant way, including access to land, resources and inputs.
As a way out of the challenge, President of African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, said the bank would invest $24 billion in agriculture within the next 10 years to help turn agriculture into a business all across Africa.
“At the African Development Bank, we have decided to work with amazing institution to help drive Africa’s agricultural sector transformation. The bank will be investing $24 billion in agriculture, over the next 10 years, to help turn agriculture into a business all across Africa. Our goal is to ensure that Africa feeds itself within 10 years, and unblocks the full potential of its agriculture.”
The event was witnessed by former Prime Minister of Democratic Republic of Congo, Matata Ponyo Mapon; Minister of Agriculture and Livestock in Burundi, Dr. Deo-Guide Rurema; Chairman, IITA Board of Trustees, Dr. Bruce Coulman; IITA Director General, Dr. Nteranya Sanginga; Oyo State governor, Abiola Ajimobi, represented by his deputy, Otunba Moses Adeyemo; Chief Executive Officer of Tony Elumelu Foundation, Mr. Tony Elumelu; and Dr. Joe Makoju, Special Adviser to Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who represented his boss and many other dignitaries.