Obasanjo spoke on Tuesday during the international trade exhibition and
conference on agrofood, plastics, printing and packaging, in Lagos.
With the theme ‘Nigeria’s Technology Investments: Driving growth in
Agrofood, Plastics, Printing and Packaging’. The former president said
there is a need for Nigeria to make agribusiness “glamorous” for young
people.
Speaking at the conference, Obasanjo said the security situation in the
country will improve if young people can be engaged through agriculture.
The former president said the business of agriculture has the tendency
to provide job opportunities for many people.
“With our teeming population and the problem we have of our youths going
over the desert and risking their lives, we can give them enough
employment,” he said.
“The area we are sure that can provide enough employment for our youths
is agricultural business.
“Even though, when we talk about agriculture, not many of them will want
to go to the farm, they will rather go for white collar jobs.
“However, the youth need to get their hands dirty and their feet wet in
agricultural business.
“The government can improve on our security, and part of our insecurity
are the men and women that are not properly engaged or employed.
“If we are able to give them employment, then there will be less of them
getting involved in banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities.”
Obasanjo added that Nigeria must make agribusiness “glamorous” for young
people, stating that the country can solve the problems of insecurity,
malnutrition, and food insecurity through agriculture.