The former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, has called for a new generation of farmers for Africa if the continent desires to resolve the yawning gap of food insecurity.
He said the current situation where approximately 40 million Africans went to bed without food, even though the continent had the largest population of youth capable of producing more food was untenable.
President Obasanjo made the call during the Presidential Youth Dialogue held at Mankessim in the Central Region, as part of the African Youth and Governance Convergence organised by Youth Bridge Foundation in partnership with AU ECOSSOC.
The dialogue was organised with technical support from the Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Training Centre.
Over the next five days, young people from 27 African countries and the diaspora from Dalhousie and Cornell Universities in Canada and the U.S would deliberate on the theme, Advancing Youth Inclusive Governance, Peace and Security: The Digital Innovation Factor.
President Obasanjo questioned why the continent prided itself with over 60 per cent of arable land yet imported chicken and other farm produce from countries like Dubai which is less endowed with agricultural land.
“Vietnam never produced coffee but now it has produced enough to become the 7th largest producer in the world in a space of six years, we need a new generation of farmers in Africa,” he said.
He recalled how COVID-19 pushed him to start a fish farm on his property and can now boast of one million catfish and half a million tilapia.
“We need our leaders to focus and if we focus, maximum six to seven years, we would put food insecurity in Africa behind us,” he said.
He called on young people to engage in large scale soilless and greenhouse farming in cities and create a value chain for agribusiness.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo who is also Eminent Fellow of the African Youth and Governance Convergence (AYGC) and the Chief Promoter of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library asked the youth to reject the idea that they are future leaders.
“You must be leaders of today and not tomorrow, don’t believe in that statement”.
The Presidential dialogue afforded delegates attending the 15th African Youth and Governance Convergence to quiz the former head of state on a number of issues from security on the continent, women empowerment and politics to digital innovation.
Earlier, delegates visited the chief of Elmina and his elders, Assin Manso Slave River site and the Elmina Castle dungeon to connect with their ancestors and learn the atrocities meted out to innocent Africans as part of a week-long activity during the convergence.
The African Youth and Governance Convergence now in its 15th year affords young people from across 40 African countries and African Americans from the diaspora to deliberate and come out with home grown solutions, be empowered and become change agents in their various communities.
Youth Bridge Foundation also partnered Hydra cyber security services, Dalhousie University, the Obasanjo Presidential Library, Vesti, JSE Productions Diba, CTA and Magic Hands for this year’s convergence.
BY CLIFF EKUFUL
