Food insecurity is one of the problems confronting Nigeria just like other countries of the world.
United Nations estimated that more than 25 million people in Nigeria could face food insecurity in 2023 which is 47% increase from 17 million people who were already at risk of going hungry.
Against this background, Junior Chamber International (JCI) Odua on Saturday 30Th September, educated more than 50 secondary school students in Agribusiness sponsored by JCI Sen (Dr) Babajide Oguntokun Back to School Agricultural Summit.
At the event held in Methodist High School, Beside Lead City University, Ibadan, participants from 15 invited schools were present and taken through the basic rudiments of farming and the benefits they stand to gain in the future.
The President, JCI Odua, Adedeji Adeleye welcomed all participants to the 2023 edition of Babajide Oguntokun Back to School Agricultural Summit. He said the association is committed to creating impactful solutions and making difference that will not only drive the growth of the economy through diversification to agriculture sector and create sustainable opportunity for students.
The Chairperson of the occasion also welcomed participants. She stressed that the 2023 Babajide Oguntokun Back to School Agriculture Summit aimed at enlightening, sensitizing participation while diversification of economy from crude oil to viable sector like Agriculture.
Mr. Kola Badmus, Director of Planning, Research and Statistics while speaking on the theme on behalf of the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Barr Olusegun Olaleye said that he was delighted with the move by the sponsor of the project with his vision to catch young minds and introduced them to what we will make them self-reliance. Mr Badmus described the Agriculture Summit as one of the most effective strategies to improve tourism potential in Agriculture. Through this project, I believe it will reduce unemployment, poverty, criminal activities and idleness among youth; commissioner added.
In his words while delivering lecture on theme of the event, an expert from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Mr Segun Babadiya charged the students to embrace the initiative and key in to reap the benefits of participating in the project which will present them to future opportunities in Agriculture. He encouraged students to participate Agriculture through value addition by engaging in livestock farming and others. Mr. Babadiya took participants through practical session.
One of the participating students Ojo Oluwasijibomi Isaiah from Methodist High School said he learnt a lot from the programme. He described the session he was exposed to as interactive and interesting. While speaking on how to put what he learnt in practice, he said he would participate in Agriculture opportunity created in his school and charged his peers to embrace agriculture.
