IYD: Sen. Gyang urges youths to engage in agriculture, agribusiness

Sen. Istifanus Gyang (PDP, Plateau North), has urged youths to actively participate in agriculture and agri-business to enable Nigeria to become a force to reckon with in the global food chain and achieve food security.

Gyang gave the advice in a statement issued by his Personal Assistant on Media and Protocol, Mr Musa Ashoms, and made available to our reporter on Thursday in Jos.

The lawmaker joined the global community to celebrate and identify with youths on this year’s International Youth Day (IYD) marked on Aug. 12.

He acknowledged that the IYD was designated by the United Nations as an awareness day to draw the world’s attention not only to youth related issues but to mainstream the youth as critical stakeholders and contributors to the attainment of solutions to global challenges.

“One such global challenge is the need to attain sustainable and equitable food systems and food security.

“That is why the theme for 2021 IYD celebration ‘Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health’ is apt,” he said.

Sen. Gyang, however, expressed sadness that while the world was focusing on food security, grown farm crops were being criminally destroyed by assailants in host communities of Plateau North.

According to him, such act along with the general insecurity across the country posed a serious threat to food security thereby sabotaging the attainment of the global objective.

The lawmaker said that he believes in the potential of Plateau and indeed Nigerian youths and urged them to develop and deploy their talents through education, skills acquisition, innovation and creativity not only for self actualisation but for the benefit of humanity