Oduduwa youths honour agric Minister

By Rachael Maza

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, has been honoured with the award of commendation by the Oduduwa Youth Development Initiative (OYDI)

A statement issued yesterday by the Director of Information in the Ministry, Tony Ohaeri, said the award was in recognition of the Minister’s impeccable performance in repositioning the agricultural sector, which has the potential of overtaking the petroleum sector as the highest revenue earner for the nation.

The Minister while receiving the award of commendation said, the youth group needed to be fully supported in ensuring that the activities, programmes and the successes recorded by the ministry are properly communicated to the grassroot.

Dr. Adesina disclosed that over 114 million cocoa seedlings have been distributed across the nation, while another breed of High yielding cocoa seedling have been approved for distribution by President Goodluck Jonathan.

According to him, plans are underway to launch Cocoa Co-operative to make the sector work and equally access funds.

The Minister was of the opinion that the group’s platform, through Town Hall meetings and the proposed magazine of the youth group “AGOGO ODUDUWA”, could also be another channel of reaching out to the youths and people in the South-West.  Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman and National Co-ordinator of the Odudduwa Youth Development Initiative (OYDI), Mr. Ibukunoluwa Oluwole, expressed the appreciation of the group to the disposition to service as demonstrated by the Minister.

He said that mass involvement of the youth through training and access to funds would help enhance wonderful revolution in the agricultural sector. According to him, “If 70% of Nigerian Youths are engaged in agriculture, Nigeria stands to benefit a lot”.