The diversification of Nigeria’s economy from its heavy reliance on crude oil has been a recurring recommendation from economic experts over the past decades.
This push has prompted successive national administrations to invest significantly in the agricultural sector, which was a key driver of Nigeria’s economic growth before the discovery of oil in 1956 in Oloibiri, present-day Bayelsa State.
The current administration, led by His Excellency President Bola Tinubu, has also prioritised substantial investment in agriculture to ensure food security for Nigerians.
However, the Federal Government alone cannot achieve the desired success in this critical sector without the collaborative efforts of other political leaders across all levels and the citizens.
One such political leader is Lekan Adeoti, a young man from Ifetedo community in Ife-South Local Government Area of Osun State.
Lekan Adeoti is the lawmaker representing Ife-South State Constituency in the current 10th Assembly of Osun State. While he has been proactive in his constitutional duties of lawmaking and oversight, his remarkable contributions to youth empowerment through agricultural and vocational training deserve special attention.
Popularly and politically called “Lekan”, he has sponsored 93 youths from his constituency to attend the Soilless Agricultural Laboratory in Ogun State for intensive training in modern agriculture and vocational skills.
These youths are trained in batches, starting from March 2024, with each batch undergoing a three-month programme. The initiative equips participants to become employers of labour rather than mere job seekers.
The training rekindles interest among young people in agriculture by introducing them to modern practices such as mechanised farming. Participants learn to construct greenhouses—enclosed structures worth approximately ₦11 million—used for cultivating fruits, vegetables, flowers, and other plants requiring controlled environmental conditions.
This hands-on agricultural training provides participants with practical knowledge as they monitor their crops throughout the training period.
The benefits are multifaceted. During the three-month training, participants receive stipends, and they also earn a percentage of the profits generated from their cultivated crops.
In addition to agricultural training, participants gain vocational skills of their choice, including tailoring, welding, carpentry, and more. This invaluable knowledge equips them to be self-reliant in a competitive labour market, ultimately contributing to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), of which agriculture accounted for 24% in the past decade.
The training at the Soilless Agricultural Laboratory is ongoing, with Lekan Adeoti ensuring that at least 30 new young farmers graduate every three months. His efforts significantly contribute to national food security and bolster Nigeria’s economy.
If more financially privileged Nigerians were to sponsor youth agricultural initiatives like Lekan Adeoti, food insecurity would become a thing of the past. Hunger would be eradicated, and youth unemployment rates would see a substantial decline.
