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In lieu of the economic challenges facing the country, especially Nasarawa State, the newly appointed Senior Special Assistant to Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura on youth empowerment, Ibrahim Bai, has expressed commitments towards exploring areas where youths can contribute to the state’s economic growth.
Speaking with some selected Journalists in Lafia on Tuesday, Bai said: “Considering the present economic challenges, we must change the mind-set of the youths on the term empowerment by coming up with new initiatives geared toward economic growth.”
Bai stated that the agricultural sector is an area he intends to engage youths, adding that if youths are engage actively in agriculture it would no doubt boost the economic fortunes of the state.
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“Agribusiness holds a huge potential for the youth to develop for their economic empowerment. As youths, we should know that agriculture is the first source of income for many people not only in our country but also in many other countries. It is also the main source of food for many people. This tendency should lead us to think big about how to take advantage of it and come up with successful business ideas in view of the present economic realities,” Bai explained.
“I will look at areas where government can assist our youths to go into agribusiness, taking into consideration that the current farming population is ageing and the youth constitute the majority of our population.
“When you ask what is really lacking for our youth to make their mark in agribusiness, you realise that they lack awareness and motivation as land, market for produce, skills, access to finance through banks are available.”
“I intend to come up with a program that will help create awareness and also encourage our young people to venture into what they have been considering as a non-profitable sector”.
