Engaging youths in agriculture ’ll curb food insecurity — Wike

The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has said that youths’ involvement in agriculture will help to address food insecurity in the country.

He said this Tuesday in Abuja at the 2023 edition of the Italian Cuisine in the World themed ‘At the Table with Italian Cuisine well-being with taste- The relationship between sports and food’.

Wike, represented by the Minister of State of FCT, Hajiya Mariya Mahmud said agricultural development would birth more collaborations and partnerships between Nigeria and other countries.

“First on the list of the eight-renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu is the issue of food insecurity. When you talk about food security, one is talking about agriculture. FCT is blessed with vast lands. We have over 800,000 hectares of land, of which 274,000 is for agricultural development.

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“The largest population of Nigeria is the youths, which makes Nigeria a productive country. By engaging these youths in agricultural development, a lot of collaborations and partnerships can emerge. Youths are also trained in fish farming among others.’’

The special guest at the event, Allensandra Capellotto, a retired Champion cyclist from Italy, said she aims to raise girls in the sport especially in Nigeria, advising that high performance in sports is as a result of good diet.

The Italian ambassador to Nigeria, Stefano De Leo, said that Italian Cuisine Week aims to promote the Italian gastronomic culture emphasizing the regional specialties, and the importance of a healthy lifestyle and that the event in its 8th edition shows its importance, including in the diplomatic relationship between Nigerian and Italy.

Also, the representative of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Alhaji Muhammed Abdullahi, said that the government was committed to cycling and other sports development in the country.