By Femi Atolagbe

Ondo State Governor Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has appealed to parents to encourage their children to go back to farm as a means of catching them young.
Akeredolu said agriculture is not only the bedrock of the economy but oxygen of the economy, saying it’s important to catch the youth young through agriculture for the nation to be self sufficient in food production.
The governor represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Youth and Students Affairs, Mr. Muyiwa Ogunyemi stated this at the one – day capacity building on leadership training organised by the Ondo State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.
The theme; Transforming Food System: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health, held in Akure .
He said there was no way we can be self sufficient in food production if youths were neglected.
According to him, the issue of parents not allowing their children to take part in practical agriculture in schools will be addressed by collaborating with the Ministry of Agriculture, Education, Youth and Sports Development in conjunction with the State House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture and Education to see how the education can accommodate the new policy.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Engineer Wemimo Ogunsanmi said it’s pertinent to build the capacity of youth to enable them take decision on health and take responsibility for their decision.
The guest lecturer ,Dr Emmanuel MoyinJesu said largest population as constituted by the youths is the most energetic and is supposed to be the most productive part of the nation.
MoyinJesu added that why children were not going to farm was because there were no role model for them.
He therefore urged the youth body to form a pressure group to get government attention in term of finance adding that they should start encouraging themselves by giving out award for the best farmer, this he said would encourage others take agriculture as a profession.
His words: “The training has provided them the opportunity to be positively informed on a way of food transformation which he described as food processing, marketing, consumption and eating healthier food and youth are key player in this regard to provide employment for them.”
“We have been able to sensitise them to take the opportunity and their youth council is being encouraged to embark on some political lobbying to achieve their goals.”
“It’s high time the youth change their slogan from not too young to run to not too young to farm and become great agriculture entrepreneur.”