International Youth Day: Senate felicitates With Nigerian Youth, Charges them on food Security
Nigerian Senate on Thursday sent a message of solidarity to Nigerian Youth congratulating and identifying with them on the occasion of 2021 International Youth Day. The event which comes up on August 12 every year, as set aside by the United Nations, has its theme for this year; “Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Plenary Health”.
In a statement signed by the Chairman of Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Dr. Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru and made available to nigerianecho.com.ng, he commended Nigerian youth for their resilience in contributing to National Development.
“The relevance of this year’s theme at this period in our national life and development efforts is huge and cannot be over emphasised; especially coming at the time of rising staple food prices and at the time when our youths should focus and divert more energy to the practice of agriculture.
“The issues involved in this year’s theme are agriculture and sustainable food production, adequate provision and supply of water for agricultural purposes, especially when seasonal rainfall can no longer be adequate to meet agricultural needs and the effects of weather changes on plants due to climate change”, Basiru noted.
He added that concerted and deliberate efforts must be made to produce larger volume of food to cater for the good health and well being of not only the existing population but also to prepare and cater for future population increase.
Basiru, a fomer Students’ Union leader in his University days noted that the strategic importance of the youth to the national development especially on improved food production cannot be over emphasised.
“As we celebrate Nigerian youths in the different positive ways in which they have been contributing to National Development, we must say that they are strategic to securing National Food Chain and should be active partners if the Nation will join the world global community to realise the importance of this year’s theme.
“The Senate, therefore, wishes to encourage the youth to come up with entrepreneurial schemes to improve water and food security through Innovations, direct involvement, determination and dynamism.
“Governments at all levels must also encourage such Youth entrepreneurship created around food supply, preservation and availability of adequate water, production of food choices that enhances good health and produce the energy needed to make people engage in productive ventures.
“In fact, our quest to attain the level already attained by the developed World is to focus on agriculture and sustainable food production, not only to meet our needs but also to export to the world at large. To fill this gap, all sectors, youths inclusive, must make major impacts in creative innovation, advocacy and improvements in Agriculture.
“It is on this note that the Senate congratulates the teeming, strong, dynamic, forceful and energetic youths of this country on the celebration of the Youths Day while urging them to brace up to this vital sector”, Basiru concluded.