Former Nigeria President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has accepted the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) appointment as Africa’s Ambassador for Agricultural Technology.
Making the announcement Friday after meeting with the former president in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state, during the week, the AATF executive director, Dr. Canisius Kanangire, said the appointment was informed by the ex-president’s track record of championing agricultural transformation on the continent.
Jonathan, who served as Nigerian President from 2010 to 2015, and had since been in the forefront of agricultural improvement on the continent, while accepting the appointment, said as a former Head of State, his interest in serving the continent was driven by the interest he had in driving food security and transformation for better quality of life in Africa.
Kanangire said Jonathan’s commitment to uplift agriculture on the continent was exemplified by the Agricultural Transformation Agenda “he pursued and diligently implemented in Nigeria during his tenure as President.”
He said, “The agenda targeted increasing efficiency and profitability in about 12 selected key agricultural commodities, which include: cotton, cocoa, cassava, oil palm, maize, soya bean, onion, rice, livestock, fisheries, tomato and sorghum.
“Dr Jonathan was able to demonstrate in Nigeria that agriculture should be treated as a business and supported by relevant policies for the improvement of the livelihoods of our growing farming population. He is a pan-Africanist who had stood for the eradication of rural poverty and the peaceful coexistence of the continent, hence his involvement in peaceful conflict resolution on the continent.
“As AATF’s Ambassador, Dr. Jonathan, will advocate for advancement of Africa’s agricultural goals and economic growth through application of innovative technologies and enhanced investment in agriculture. AATF is honoured to have the former president as our ambassador, whose role will accelerate ongoing efforts to improve our agricultural terrain.”
