Agriculture can stop youth restiveness, says lawmaker

The representative of Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo in the National Assembly, Livinus Makwe, yesterday urged all levels of government to invest in agriculture, saying it will help check youth restiveness in the country.

The legislator, who decried the increasing number of unemployed youths said urgent steps should be taken to create opportunities for them.

Makwe, who spoke during a two-day entrepreneurship training at Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, said government could solve the problem created by youth unemployment by investing in agriculture.

The training, which was facilitated by the lawmaker, was carried out by National Cereal Research Institute, Badeggi, in conjunction with Longline International Limited.

Makwe said the programme was aimed at empowering youths in agriculture.

He said that the workshop had about 100 participants who were given money to invest in aquaculture business after the training.

Makwe said: “My advice to the participants is for them to use the knowledge they have acquired to establish themselves in the area of aquaculture which is the basic area of concentration in this training.

“Many youths are not interested in going into agriculture because they believe it is still the same system of using holes for cultivation, but we try to make them understand that they can use modern equipment like tractor and we have also made arrangements to assist them in that area once they are ready.”

One of the beneficiaries, Comrade Raymond Okoro, who is the Youth President of Ohanivo Forum, said he had gained a lot from the programme.

“I’m going to invest in fish farming which I know is very lucrative because it is something that is needed all year round; it will also help me to empower others because it’s not going to be a one-man affair; it’s a chain programme that will integrate others.”