Vice-President Kashim Shettima on Friday assured of enhanced Federal Government support to the Nasarawa State Government’s agriculture production programmes.
Shettima gave the assurance when he inaugurated the distribution of tractors, Jangwa Paddy Rice to the 13 Local Government Chairmen and relief materials to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state.
Newsspecng.com reports that the paddy distributed was part of the harvest from the state owned Rice Farm in Jangwa, an initiative to key into the Federal Government’s food security programme.
The event also featured the graduation of over 1,000 trained technicians of the Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim Vocational and Technology Institute in Lafia.
Shettima said that empowering the local government with tractors and other agricultural implements was absolutely essential for the country to record progress in agriculture.
He noted that agriculture was all about increased in yield, adding that without mechanisation and imbibing modern agricultural practices that much counted increase in yield aspirations would continue “to eludes us.”
The Vice-President described Nasarawa as the agricultural power house of the nation, adding that beyond being the home of solid minerals, the state was in a position to feed the whole of the nation.
” And I think a lot of my friends from all part of the nation and some people from as far as Bayelsa state coming to farm in Nasarawa State.
” The Federal Government under the able leadership of President Bola Tinubu will continue to render whatever support necessary to see that this nation gets out of the wood.
” And luckily we have crossed the rubicon and we are on a path to sustain growth. I believe the worst is over. The economy is picking up and by the grace of God we are going to record pumper harvest in the upcoming agricultural season.”
He commended Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa for his examplary leadership and for the monumental accomplishments in agriculture.
” The people of Nasarawa State will not appreciate this poor man (Gov. Suke) until he is no longer on the seat,” Shettima said.
He said the ongoing reforms initiated by President Bola Tinubu’s administration would create employment opportunities for the youth and provide greater opportunities in the various sectors of the economy.
He underscored the inevitability of skills acquisition among the young demographic in Nigeria, noting that the nation can no longer afford to keep growing a population of idle, unemployed and unemployable youths.
” The danger of paying lip service to technical and vocational skills acquisition is one none of us is prepared to experience.
” The examples of various low- and middle-income countries, especially the Asian Tigers, are there to inspire the direction of our National Development Plans and push our economic drive towards a destination we all desire—a place of boom.
“This is why His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu has championed economic reforms beyond the usual cosmetic fixes to lay the groundwork for greater opportunities ahead.
” With increased allocations to the states, I believe that we are more than energised to fund our development programmes”.
“Our response, over which we gather here today, is to build on our agenda of providing our youths with skills to either find gainful employment or become self-reliant.
Earlier, Gov. Sule said the skills programme of the state vocational and technology institute was designed to address the skills gap in critical sectors and empower young Nigerians.
He thanked Vice-President Shettima for finding time to visit the state, and for supporting its modest contributions to economic transformation and youth empowerment.
In his remarks, former Plateau State Governor, Sen. Simon Lalong, praised the courage and efforts of Nasarawa government in impacting the lives of young Nigerians through the various schemes in agriculture and vocational and technology training.
On his part, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, His Lordship, Hassan Kukah, applauded Nasarawa government for its efforts in addressing poverty through skills acquisition and economic empowerment.
He emphasised the significance of empowering young people with skills to impact their communities and societies.
The institute’s Executive Director, Dr Daniel Ewuga, said the 1,000 graduands of the 2024 programme of the institute had undergone rigorous training and acquired skills that are relevant to contemporary challenges of their communities and state at large.
On his part, the Emir of Lafia, retired Justice Sidi Bage I, thanked the Vice-President for his support and commitment to the people of Nasarawa.
The royal father pledged the loyalty of the traditional council to the federal government’s programmes and policies.
Newsspecng.com reports that the high points of the event were the presentation of start-up packs and certificates to the graduands in welding, tailoring, and ICT among other fields.
The Vice-President also toured the Olam warehouse where the produce of the Nasarawa State Rice Farm project for 2024 was stored.
