In a bid to ensure food sufficiency and sustainability in Nigeria, the wife of the president, Oluremi Tinubu, has called on the nation’s youth to embrace agriculture.
She made this call during a meeting with the management team of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADFUND), who visited to discuss various areas of collaboration.
Mrs. Tinubu noted that the lack of farmland resulting from urbanisation should not be a barrier, as individuals can adopt alternative methods, such as smart gardening, to grow their own food.
“We have a lot to show our youth, and I believe the time is now,” she stated. “There is a huge disconnect between reality and fiction. There is a need to catch them young and have them do right. Once the children get it, it would be easy to bring it home.”
Highlighting the Renewed Hope Initiative’s (RHI) plans, the First Lady mentioned the forthcoming launch of the Young Farmers Club in public primary and secondary schools. This initiative, she said, aims to engage young Nigerians in agriculture from an early age, aligning with the Federal Government’s food sufficiency agenda.
NADFUND’s Executive Secretary, Mohammed Ibrahim, lauded the First Lady’s agriculture-focused programs, particularly the Women in Agric Support Program (WASP), the Young Farmers Club, and the #EveryHomeAGarden competition. He expressed NADFUND’s commitment to supporting these initiatives through mentorship, training, and logistical assistance for women farmers across Nigeria.
Ibrahim further presented a document outlining NADFUND’s aims and mission to the First Lady, marking a step towards enhanced cooperation in advancing Nigeria’s agricultural sector.