The executive director, National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), Zaria, Professor Clarence Lakpini, has said the only panacea for unemployment in the country “is acquisition of skills in agriculture,” and called on the youth to take the advantage of the sector.
He stated this Friday at MAC farms, Osara, situated on Lokoja-Abuja road during the opening ceremony of a two-day training programme for 54 unemployed youth and women, sponsored by Yusuf Ahmed Tijani, representing Okene/Ogori Magogo federal constituency in the House of Representatives.
Lakpini, who was represented by Professor Joshua Tanko, said unemployment in the country had reached the roof tops, urging the youth, women and graduates to engage themselves in skills acquisition in any department of agriculture to earn a living.
He, therefore, advised salary earners to desist from depending on salaries alone, but to engage in a venture that “will increase their incomes,” adding that the era of a lasting or comfortable job “is over.”
“Agriculture offers a wide range of opportunities; government job is good job, but build yourself up, it’s better for you. Many graduates today are taking jobs that are below their standards, all because of trying to be on money-job.
“Don’t under rate any opportunity, you can start poultry farm at your backside. With or without government job, we can survive. No need stuffing yourself with credentials, get to do something and key into agriculture and make a living,” he stressed.
In his remarks, Tijani said the youth and women in the society should know that the era of white collar job was over, and advised them to maximise opportunities and acquire skills to enable them to navigate to safety in the present situation in the country.
Earlier, the project manager of Ozomata Foundation, Engr. Danjuma Abubakar, said the Foundation was saddled with the responsibility of handling the operation, in collaboration with Tripple Icon Nigeria Limited.
He gave the assurance that participants “will be assisted with monetary and material incentives, including technical supervision, after the training.”
Ismaila Kadijat and Ahmed Jibrin, who spoke on behalf of the participants, commended the organisers, saying “with this training” they “will be able to live on their own and subsequently be employers of labour.”
