The Governor of Kebbi State, Senator Abubakar Bagudo has instructed the 100 trainees of the National Agency for Skills Acquisition Training and Youth Empowerment of the National Agency for Scientific and Technical Infrastructure (NASENI ) to determine to become billionaires through agriculture.

He made the call during the opening ceremony of the Skills Training on “Modern Farming Methods Using Improved Farming Tools in Kebbi State” today (15th August 2022) in Birnin Kebbi , the state capital.

The five-day training program which runs from ages 15 to 19 kicked off the national skills training for youths across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones with a target of 100 trainees in each zone. .

“We are actually very lucky in Nigeria because other countries are facing food shortages, but not us. Yes, we may be experiencing higher prices, but this is an invitation to our young people, these young men and women who want to be billionaires. What higher prices tell you is that there are opportunities. Be the billionaires you want to be. Produce, don’t buy. Sell.

“So to the trainees here, please make it a goal today that you are determined to be billionaires out of agriculture. That you are determined to succeed in this training. How do you achieve this? By being humble. Don’t assume you know what you don’t know. Make sure you understand. Starting today, ask yourself how anyone in the world became a billionaire through farming. More you wonder, the more questions you ask during this training that will prepare you for this future. This is what we pray that you will realize so that you will serve as an example to others,” he charged.

Bagudo, who underscored President Muhammadu Buhari’s belief that Nigeria’s economy can be transformed through agriculture, stressed that this can only happen if proper attention is given to agriculture, which he called “science”.

He said: “We can only transform the nation through agriculture when we do the right thing. [by] funds[ing] and support[ing] agriculture properly and, above all, the proper integration of science and engineering in agriculture.

“The fact that we are here today as part of a NASENI training program sums it all up. Today we are here to understand that agriculture is a science. The seed we put underground is science. If you don’t know it, understand it, or use the correct one, you get nothing. How you grow, plant, process, use technology is science and engineering. The less you do, the less results you get.

“So over the past seven years we have seen an increase in output, production because of this belief that President Muhammadu Buhari planted in Nigerians to believe in themselves, institutions and to ensure that our best brains go where the problems are. Today, NASENI, an institution that houses our best brains, helps us, among other things, to ensure that we do much better and faster in agriculture. I believe we will because, as I said, agriculture is a science,” he added.

Earlier, in his welcome address, Executive Vice President of NASENI, Prof. Mohammed Haruna explained that President Muhammadu Buhari has endorsed the skills acquisition training in all geopolitical zones of the country.

According to him, each train is adapted to the areas of operation and economic activities in the area. In the North-West zone, Kebbi, known for its breeding, is the core target of his training.

“The technologies we bring and teach and ensure farmers have the tool and everything they need as starter packs to operate successfully include equipment for cultivation, weeding, planting , processing and all other post-harvest activities, including food preservation to ensure the export of the food product.But, in order to consolidate and maintain the success achieved by the Buhari administration in agriculture, President has approved six zonal agricultural equipment and machinery development institutes for each of the six geopolitical zones.The North West one is approved to be located in Kebbi State.Additionally, a skills development center is also approved for this state,” he said.

The boss of NASENI postulated that the impact of modern farming techniques and mechanized farming technology cannot be overstated.

“We have said over and over again that we cannot continue at this time to use animal power or continue to use hard work in what should be a very attractive activity or exercise to improve food production.

“We cannot continue to do everything manually, including processing and hard work, resulting in low crop yield in a single agricultural season limited to one year, instead of multi-crop production. NASENI has therefore, with the approval and directive of President Muhammadu Buhari, acquired skills acquisition technologies from the Czech Republic and Jordan to domesticate, enhance and improve yields, as well as ensure food security,” said he declared.

Haruna added that the training is therefore in line with expanding and ensuring the sustainability of the success already achieved by this administration in agricultural development and technology.

He urged the 100 participants (who are practicing farmers carefully selected from the 21 LGAs in the state) to pay close attention to the trainings and go home and use the technology acquired to teach others for the benefit of the nation. .

In his remarks, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami (SAN), said the training will provide the support and guidance needed to achieve the Buhari administration’s skills development goals, youth empowerment and agricultural revolution as well as food security in the country.

“I understand from the organizers that this training aims to address issues related to unemployment, reduction of youth unrest, youth empowerment for the development of self-reliant agriculture, food security and national development overall,” Malami said.

In his remarks, All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Nasiru Idris, affirmed that agriculture has the potential to contribute to poverty alleviation and value addition related to other sectors of the economy.

“Nigeria’s promise for a better future lies in agriculture and our young people must form the bedrock of that promise. This training, I believe, is a deliberate effort to inspire our young people to embrace agriculture. There is no doubt that agriculture is the largest contributor to our country’s gross domestic product and remains the foundation of our economy. It must be encouraged, promoted, supported to take a prominent place in our economy. We have accepted that our economy can be better led by our young people.

“With Kebbi State as one of the best producers of rice, maize, millet and wheat in the country, training our youths in the use of improved agricultural tools will certainly help boost our economy through increased productivity. increased,” he added.

In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of Usam Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Prof. Lawal Bilbis praised NASENI for being Nigeria’s springboard for industrial revolution.

“If Nigeria is to grow into the next industrial revolution, NASENI will be the springboard. NASENI reminds us of China and India which needed springboards like NASENI to lead their development,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the participants, Ashiru Adamu, thanked President Buhari, NASENI and the Kebbi State Government for the privilege of being trained in modern farming methods.

“The agricultural system the president is focusing on is highly relevant as food security is a hot and important topic. A hungry nation is an angry nation.

“This training will help us grow what we will use across the country and also allow us to export our products,” he added.