The unique executives of the Nigerian Association of
Agricultural Students, FUTO Chapter on Thursday Visited the Ministry of
Agriculture, Imo State to Solicit and Appeal for Permission, Support and Advice
on the Program initiated by the Association on “The Sensitization of
Agriculture at Secondary School Levels”.
During the President’s Opening Speech, he said “Agricultural
Courses are not a waste of time as people think over here. They are not courses
for the less privilege. They are not courses for those who are not intelligent
or Bright. There is need for Empowerment and Encouragement from the Ministry.
There is need for equipping the Students with mechanized equipments for
comfortable learning environment and also for Practical. One of the Major
reasons why Agriculture is critically ill is because, it was neglected by the
government and Oil Production took control which was supposed to be so. We
initiated this Program to bring back the Mantle of Agriculture, to preach the
Gospel of Agriculture to Secondary School Students and also explain to them the
benefits of Undertaking Agriculture in their Career.
After his speech some of the members of the association were
given the chance to add to what the President said towards the need for
initiating the Sensitization Program.
Hon. Okezie Unique: “In the environment were Agriculture is
Overlooked, Farmers neglected, Students undertaking Agriculture in their career
not encouraged, there is need for sensitization. We were taught in our school
that Agriculture is the growing of crops and rearing of animals for man’s
consumption but little do we know that there is more to agriculture than what
schools are holding. That is why we initiated this program starting from
Secondary Schools to tell them that there is more to Agriculture than they are
been exposed. We are pleading with the Government of Imo State to help us unleash
the bright side of Agriculture and Agricultural Courses to students to secondary
school students to open their eyes to the real deal of Agriculture”..He said.
Also Comr. Chike Fred contributed by saying: “I one time
asked my younger sister what she wanted to study in the University and she
replied Law. I asked her why Law and she said because that’s the course my
friends also want to study. When I suggested Agricultural courses to her, she
said ‘Tufiakwa’……This is the main reason why we initiated this program to tell
our young ones @ Secondary schools that Agriculture isn’t just about planting
corn, cassava, et cetera and harvesting them”.
According to the Hon. Commissioner’s speech Mr. Udo Aguoha,
reacting to the Proposal, he commended the President of the Nigerian Association
of Agricultural students (FUTO Chapter) on his wisdom towards initiating the
Sensitization Program for Secondary School Students. “Our incumbent Governor,
Rochas Okorocha in 2013 launched ‘Plant a Palm Program’. This was introduced to
many villages, communities, L.G.As but many people played with it.
It is important of us to understand the importance of
Agriculture in our society. Go to other ministries,
you would see that they depend on Agriculture for livelihood and Survival.
Agriculture is the most Nobel profession and for you to be successful in it,
you have to be passionate about it, else you would be frustrated along the
line. Already we have preached it that every school must have a Farm (Starting
from primary schools). I am going to set up a panel to see how we are going to
help. We are going to collaborate with you (NAAS) to usher in a new era where
agriculture takes precedence over every other thing. It used to be Crude oil,
but now how many oil wells are functioning?, how many refineries are working
today? Majority of agricultural products as we all know are harvested in the
north, while little or none are gotten from the South East. Finally, connect
other tertiary institutions around to join in the Sensitization program”…..he
said.
The President of the Association Comr. Ukonu Dennis in his vote
of thanks, thanked the Almighty God for his Grace, Commissioner and members of
the ministry for appreciating their idea. “Of a truth, some would say we are
only students what can we offer to the society but you accommodated us and also
believed that we can contribute meaningfully to the Agricultural Movement in
the State.
