SENATE President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has urged Nigerian youths to take advantage of the Agriculture Finance Bill recently passed by the 8th Senate to further their engagements in agriculture business.
In a statement by his Special Assistant, Print Media, Chuks Okocha, Saraki expressed happiness that youths have taken to agriculture as a means of livelihood instead of waiting endlessly for non-existing white collar jobs.
The Senate President, who spoke when the executive committee members of the Tomatoes and Orchid Producers Association of Nigeria, TOPAN, visited him at the National Assembly complex in Abuja, said: “The youths should take advantage of the recently passed Agro Finance Bill by the 8th Senate and access the benefits of agriculture on the small and medium scale financing and agro allied jobs.
“This bill, if properly harnessed by the youths, would create jobs and ensure food security for the country and help grow the economy, especially in the time of recession in the country.” Earlier, leader of TOPAN, Oyeleke Job, said members encouraged massive production of tomatoes and orchids by offering training and technical assistance to producers in the rural areas.
By so doing, he said the association contributed immensely to improve the quality production of tomatoes and orchids as well as creation of jobs for the unemployed youths. The courtesy visit was attended by the Senate leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan, Senators Philip Aduda, Theodore Orji, Ubale Shittu among others.