To ensure efficient food security and economic development in Nigeria, a monarch has charged Nigerians on investing in sustainable agribusiness ventures.
Haliru Ndanusa Yahaya, emir of Shonga, made the charge in a paper entitled: ‘Harnessing the Potential of Traditional Institutions for Integrated Agricultural and Rural Development in Nigeria’ delivered at a seminar organized by Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI).
“Agricultural provides the foundation for economic growth and development in several countries around the world. The obas, emirs and chiefs in Nigeria can exploit the same potentials by empowering their farmers and youths, by so doing, the wealth that will be generated will drastically reduce rural poverty and we will attain the growth we looking for,” Yahaya said.
“We right now we have think-tank in traditional institutions; hence they have to be well utilized for greater opportunities. Now we have generals, lawyers, engineers, doctors, ambassadors among others as traditional rulers who can be consulted by the government if it knows what it wants to do,” he said.
The keynote speaker expressed dismay over incessant killings owing to disputes between farmers and herdsmen, urging the government to constantly engage the various parities through dialogue.
“Human intelligence is what is failing us in this country, Boko Haram can hide here, but you do not know he is there. Therefore, we need surveillance and regular dialogue. Our attitudes must change if we must get right and succeed in this country, because we are still not there,” he added.
“Abroad we are different human beings, here we are different. We are known for the best and highest of something bad or lowest and the least of something good. We should change that narrative and our attitude is what we have to change.”
In his opening remarks, Danatuz Nwampa, the chairman, ARMTI Board of Governors described the theme as a timely consideration at this present time in our nation.
“This is the time for us to consolidate and strengthen and fully utilize our traditional institutions and realise that the traditional rulers hold the potentials to unlock the solution to the major problems confronting us today as they are closer to the grass roots.
“We find problems and needs in the agriculture and rural sector and seek to make interventions to mitigate and show a way forward for the nation in that regard.
“We also identified experts and relevant stakeholders to brainstorm and engage on issues towards providing a workable solution for this nation,” Nwampa said.
Nwampa assured that ARMTI has identified key areas to explore and pursue in moving this nation forward just as he thanked the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, Minister for Agriculture and Rural development, Audu Ogbeh, Royal fathers and others for their relentless supports for ARMTI.
Prof Shehu Abdulrahman, former VC, Federal University, Gashua spoke on “Accelerating Sustainable Agricultural and Rural Development in Nigeria: The Traditional Institutions as a Viable Option”.
He pointed out that, Nigeria is lacking value chain in agriculture and traditional institutions can really helped a lot in that regard.
“If we want economy diversification of the present government to be effective and sustainable, traditional institutions should be best organized and involved in both planning and implementation of agricultural and rural development programs to guide policymakers’ intervention appropriately,” he said.
SIKIRAT SHEHU, Ilorin
