Go back to the farm- Nyako, others tell Northerns

From Femi Oyelola, kaduna

The former Governor of Adamawa State, Vice Admiral Murtala Nyako has called on Northerns to go back to farming in order to maintain their relevance in the country.
He stated this at the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation (SABMF) annual lecture and Honours Award held in kaduna yesterday.
According to him Agriculture is the traditional occupation of the Northerns, hence it has to be sustain.
Nyako added that with the vast land in the North, the region will not only feed the country but generates foreign exchange through exportation of Agricultural produces
Nyako who presented a lecture titled “Integrated Agriculture For Food Security and Sustainable Economic Regeneration in Northern Nigeria”said encouraging farming in the region will drastically reduced the security challenges bedeviling the region.
The former Governor who is a Farmer expressed dismay on the dependence on oil by some people in the region.
“Before oil was discovered we are known for producing Agricultural products, but along the way we lost our focus and that is what brought us to our present predicaments.
“We must rejuvenate the spirit of farming in other to maintain our relevance in the country.
“Our Youth should know that their future is in farming and God has made it easy for them with vast land and good climate” he said.
One of the discussants Prof. Muhammadu Kuta said the North should tap from the Malaysia experience by making Agriculture the bedrock of the region economy.
Similarly the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of SABMF Engr. Abubakar Gambo Umar said the Foundation decided to focus on Agriculture during this year’s lecture to create awareness in the citizens that farming remains the same sure way to end poverty.
Engr. Abubakar Gambo Umar said the decision taken during the lecture will be forwarded to stakeholders for actions.
Several dignitaries are at the moment attended the lectures, among which are, former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, former minister of Interior, General Abdulrahman Dambazzau (rtd), Deputy Governor of Katsina State, and a host of others.