By Zahra Muhammad
ASHENEWS reports that the Niger state governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago has announced the launch of the state’s agricultural development fund.
Bago, who stated this on Wednesday while speaking at the ongoing Niger state green economy summit said that the initiative is aimed at promoting youth participation in the agric sector.
Bago said that the state government was ready to provide N3.5 billion as seed capital for the fund to enable people to enroll back into agriculture for a sustainable future.
Bago said that the state government was providing N1 million each to the first 1,000 youth to key into the initiative.
He equally pledged N100 million on behalf of each of the 25 local government areas in the state.
He also announced plans to establish agricultural extension schools in each of the 25 local government areas in the state.
In his remark, the group managing director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Commission (NNPC), Mele Kyari lauded the Niger state government for taking the bold step towards the green economy.
Kyari, who was represented at the event by the Vice President, of Gas, Power, and New Energy Olalekan Ogunleye said that the decision of the Niger state government to promote a green economy was coming at a time when both the federal government and its partners were aligned across the board to create a gas-based economy.
According to him, Niger state has a comparative advantage to take the lead as a participant in the federal government’s agenda for a gas-based economy.
The NNPC MD pledged the commitment of the agency to support the vision of the state government.
This online platform reports that the event featured panel discussions on topics ranging from climate-smart agriculture, gender mainstreaming in climate change planning, data utilization in achieving green economic development, sustainable agroforestry practices, smart agro-tourism, etc.
