THE Chief Imam of Aiyepe community in Odogbolu Local Government Area of Ogun State, Alhaji Safihiyu Awosanya, has emphasised the need for Nigeria to reintroduce the old farm settlement scheme.
Awosanya, speaking after his installation as the new Chief Imam of Aiyepe, recently, said the scheme, started some years back to boost food production and stave off famine, failed due to lack of continuity.
Awosanya said the three tiers of governments should provide modern social amenities at the various existing farm settlements in order to encourage young Nigerians to buy into the programme and for its sustainability.
He said this became imperative so that the country could produce sufficient food and earn foreign revenue through the export of excess produce.
“The white-collar jobs are not there again. This is a reason people must return to agriculture,” Awosanya said.
He advised youths to learn vocational skills, in addition to whatever knowledge they had already acquired as a way of tackling unemployment.
“We must train the youth in vocations; how to use their brains and hands for their own survival,” he said.
The chairman, Aiyepe Ijebu Muslim Community, Alhaji Musibau Oyefeso, advised parents and guardians to allow their children and wards to acquire both western and Islamic education.