The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) on Friday 9^th February, 2018 appealed to agro-business companies, Governments at all levels and international organizations to support its members involved in agricultural production. NYCN made the call at a news conference organized by its Directorate of Agriculture in Abuja.

The Secretary, NYCN's Agric Directorate, Mr. Uchechukwu Ogbonna said the appeal became necessary due to the importance of agriculture in providing employment opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths in the country. He said the directorate had successfully carried out sensitization on the need for youths in all the six-geo-political zones to embrace agriculture as veritable means of livelihood.

According to him, the NYCN Agric Directorate has also entered into partnerships with notable private and governmental firms in agro-production development. He said more collaborative efforts were required from other companies and governments. Ogbonna listed the firms and associations that took up the training of youths on best agricultural practices to include the Nigerian Commercial Farmers Association, Abuja and Leventis Foundation.

He also said that the Directorate had established a good relationship with the House Committee on Agriculture, adding that the relationship was designed to support the agricultural initiatives of the NYCN. According to Ogbonna, the Directorate has secured about 120 hectares of land for youths involved in agriculture in Abriba, Abia State.

He revealed that the Directorate was negotiating the release of about 250 hectares in Akwanga, Nassarawa, Benue, Ogun, Oyo and Akwa Ibom States to assist youths in farming. He said that the directorate completed the acquisition process of 170 hectares of farmland in Ogiliama Ette, Olamaboro Council area of Kogi with certified statutory documents.