The Federal Government says agriculture and livestock development will be used as the main lever to tackle unemployment and create decent work for Nigerians, especially young people and women.
Speaking at the 2nd International Conference of the Agrifood Systems Stakeholders Forum at the University of Port Harcourt on Monday, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, said the sector holds massive potential for employment if properly structured.
Represented by the Director of Ruminant and Monogastric Development, Victor Egbon, Maiha explained that the government’s coordinated national livestock development agenda is designed to expand productivity while opening new business pathways across the value chain.
According to him, the initiative “would boost agricultural productivity, create jobs and restore citizens’ confidence in the sector.”
The minister pointed to opportunities in areas like feed production, hatcheries and dairy collection as immediate job drivers.
“The livestock value chain offered huge opportunities across various businesses, including feed production, hatcheries and dairy collection,” he said.
Maiha also linked job creation to making farming attractive to the youth in order to address migration.
“The government and policymakers must make agriculture more attractive to youths to address the ‘Japa’ syndrome,” he said.
The conference, organised by the Agricultural Policy Research Network, drew stakeholders from government, development partners and academia.
The event had support from the Federal Government, the European Union and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.
