A Non-Governmental Organisation, the New Enugu Project (TNEP), has urged youths to maximize the benefits of agriculture in order to be self-employed.
The Convener of TNEP, Mr. Ekene Uzodinma, made the call in Enugu while delivering a lecture on the theme: “Youths, Self-Sustainable and Empowerment through Agriculture’’.
The occasion was the Udi Youths Security Summit organized by Udi Sons and Daughters Forum.
Uzodinma, who established a link between insecurity, unemployment, and poverty, noted that the generation of the founding fathers of the country used agriculture to build and grow the country to the envy of western nations.
According to him, “Most of the popular farm plantations and exploit in agriculture was done by them but today rather build on what is existing most youths are busy cutting down economic trees and other historical monumental trees around”.
He said we must not forget the fact that our fore-fathers made fame and wealth through agriculture and selling valuable cash crops to the Europeans.
He, however, regretted that the same land is here lying fallow before us and climatic condition remained the same.
The TNEP boss urged youths in Enugu State to take advantage of an ongoing agriculture/farming empowerment program tagged: “One Youth, One Hectare’’ project, meant to empower and support would-be youth rice farmers.
“The project is free-of-charge for interested youths, as the land will be prepared ahead, initial training is given, extension service and consultancy advice service provided free-of-charge to check any challenge.
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“And there is already off-taker that will buy the produce especially rice from them; thus, assuring a return on investment for the youths that participate in the project,’’ he noted.
He challenged traditional rulers in Udi council area to partner TNEP by providing arable farmlands, meant to expand the project and empower more youths not only in rice production but other high-yield crops according to soil peculiarities of the area.
Igwe Paul Ogbodo, Chairman of Udi Local Government Area Traditional Rulers’ Council, noted that the traditional rulers would meet on the need to provide farmlands to support the agricultural initiatives discussed as a way to check unemployment and insecurity.
“The discussion will not end here; traditional rulers will meet and provide hectares of farmland to support organizations that want to assist youths especially in planting Bambara nut (Okpa nut), that grow well in this area,’’ Ogbodo said.
On his part, the Chairman of the Forum, Mr. Emmanuel Onwuegbu, said that the summit was organized to galvanize the strength of youths in Udi to pursue the goal of eliminating poverty.
Highlights of the occasion were giving the award of excellence to some illustrious sons and daughters of Udi council area and the cutting of the five years anniversary cake of the forum.
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