Agriculture can help absorb unemployed Nigerian youth – Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has given insights on job opportunities for the youth, particularly in the agricultural sector, as a way of addressing the problem of unemployment in the country.

Mr Obasanjo spoke at a job fair at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, on Thursday.

“Being a sole business person in the agricultural business, I have discovered the great job opportunities in agriculture,” said Mr Obasanjo.

Mr Obasanjo owns one of the largest farms in Africa, Obasanjo Farms, headquartered in Ota, Ogun State.

A part of his business in Ibadan was recently shut down by the Oyo State Government over tax evasion.

In his address to the students at Ife, he decried the absence of encouraging platforms for the youth, adding that agriculture could check the problem of unemployment in the country.

“This means that it is very important we start discovering the immense opportunities in agriculture by embracing agriculture passionately,” he advised

Among several companies at the fair, with opportunities such as CV checking, consultations, job offers, were Julius Berger, Portion Consult and Brick-House Construction.

Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Eyitope Ogunbodede, while giving his speech, added that it is unfortunate to note that the present system is unable to create jobs for job seekers.

“The present curriculum in the university is currently undergoing a design to bridge this gap,” he said. “And this has been going on through the various seminars the university has been organising and hosting to ensure that whatever courses students offer on this campus will be able to equip them for the current Job challenge.”