Sokoto State said it has created 27,166 jobs in the agricultural sector alone in the state in the last two years.
Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal disclosed this at the opening of a one-day stakeholders’ sensitisation workshop on climate change adaptation and agri-business support organised in collaboration with the Sokoto office of the International Fund for Agricultural Development.
Governor Tambuwal said, “In the period under consideration, we have supported over 33,000 people through promotion of improved crop production techniques, para-veterinary clinics and women and youth off-farm activities.
“Similarly, through our community-based agricultural and rural development initiatives, we’ve created 27,166 jobs through different interventions on sustainable agriculture, community infrastructure, rural enterprise development among others.”
He said his administration was fully committed to the development of agriculture with a view to enhancing food security, poverty eradication and boosting employment opportunities, especially among youths.
Tambuwal said that the state government would continue to honour and fulfil all financial obligations entered into with IFAD and other donor agencies so that the people of the state could continue to enjoy its maximum benefit.
In his goodwill message, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, represented by the Regional Director (North West), Adeyemi Ayoyeyi, said Nigerian government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari was resolute in its vision of promoting agricultural production in Nigeria.
He added that the Federal Government was implementing programmes aimed at attracting the youth to agricultural practices across the value chain.
Ogbeh said that the ministry, in colaboration with IFAD and other partners, had developed and implemented the climate change adaptation and agri-business support programme to fast-tract climate change mitigation and stimulate smart agriculture in the country.
