By Dare Akogun
The Governor of Katsina state Rt. honourable Aminu Masari has identified agriculture as the major sector that can take Nigeria out of the economic woes.
Masari while speaking with Sobi FM at the sideline of the official commissioning of two blocks of student hostel at the Igbaja, Ifelodun local government area campus of Al Hikmah university today, said with the rising cost of food items across the globe, the country must grow what it eats to be self sufficient.
The Katsina state governor whose the hostel blocks were named after, maintained that agriculture has been the main stay if the Nigerian economy before the advent of Oil , saying what would have happened to Nigeria without the foresight to revamp the agricultural sector with covid and the prize of crude oil.
According to him “That is one of the greatest achievements of this administration. So we should grow what we eat and eat what we grow to feed ourselves.
“If we are not self sufficient, there is no way we can make progress as a nation,” he said.
He commended the founder of Al hikmah university Alhaji Raheem Oladimeji and the management staff for their investment in teaching agriculture, a gesture which he says will boost food production and development of not only Kwara state but Nigeria as a whole.
Governor Masari who also revealed that Katsina state has also made tremendous commitment to the development of agriculture in the state, added that the state will be sponsoring indigent students to attend the Al hikmah university.
On the issue of 2023 and those saying it will be difficult for the APC to win the in the forthcoming election, Gov Masari that was what they said in 2019 that it will be difficult for the APC to win because of the country’s situation, “But it has come to pass that they were wrong.The fundamental thing is that the issue affecting this country has global dimensions.
“The whole world is facing crises and inflation. American is going under the worst inflation in the last 40yrs, likewise Ghana, Niger and our neighbouring countries.
“We have to appreciate what is going on in the world before we unnecessarily criticised on an issue that is global. The issue we have are beyond what one country can solve. “I consider this as a passing face in our development journey.
“Countries that are over 400yrs old are still facing some crisis. When did the Irish and British overcame theirs.
“See, we have history to learn and borrow from and we should pray for our leaders to do what is right. But all of us should know that we have a role and contribution to make.
Earlier in his speech the Vice chancellor of Al Hikmah university Professor Noah Yusuf said that as part of its efforts at contributing to the production of agricultural graduates in the country Agric courses in university is tution free.
The governor thereafter laid a foundation for another 16 room hostel block at the Faculty of Agriculture of the faith based institution.
