Jonathan commends world leaders for defying terror threats

—Jonathan urges African leaders to show more commitment to agric

By Abdullahi M. Gulloma
Abuja

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday commended world leaders and and about 1,000 participants at the ongoing World Economic Forum (WEF) for Africa in Abuja for their firm resolution to be part of the programme despite attacks by a terror group in the country.
He was speaking at the closing plenary of a programme, Grow Africa, with the theme: “A Leadership Agenda for Investing in African Agriculture,” held at the Sheraton Hotels, Abuja.

The event was on the sideline of the World Economic Forum for Africa, to be declared open today.
Jonathan, who was among the panelists including Presidents Jakaya Kiweta of Tanzania, Paul Kigame of Rwanda, Boni Yayi of Benin Republic and Prime Minister of Cote d Ivore, Daniel Duncan, also lauded the WEF team for not canceling the event.

The president said Nigeria was committed to self-sufficiency in rice production in 2015-2016 in order to  reduce poverty and hunger.
He said the present administration was committed to moving agriculture from rural development to business and a platform for creating wealth, adding that Africa must create the enabling environment for private investors to get returns on their investments in agriculture.

“No country can claim to be developed if you cannot feed yourself,” he said.
He called on African leaders to go beyond campaign slogans if they want to reap the benefits of investment in agriculture.
He said: “You have to create environment to encourage investment because businessmen do not run charity organisations. That is why we are now looking at agriculture as a business.

“The youths before now see agriculture as something that is left for the poor and old people in the village with traditional instruments.
“If you invest in agriculture you will make returns on your investment. Agriculture is key because people must eat food no matter the situation. You can be sick and choose not to go to the hospital but you must eat every day.”

On food sufficiency, Jonathan said Nigeria is producing food for local consumption and to create jobs for the young people, adding, “There is a unique opportunity in agriculture because you will create jobs, achieve food nutrition and empower women.”

The President noted that the federal government dedicated 30 per cent of agriculture loans to women and encouraged young men and women to be interested in modern agriculture.
“Financial inclusion is one of the limitations discouraging young people from investing in agriculture, but if we encourage them, they will be attracted to the sector,” he said.

Presidents Kikwete, Kigame, Yayi and Duncan agreed with President Jonathan on the importance of  involving the private sector in developing the agriculture sector.
Kigame particularly stressed that the importance of agriculture could not be overstated.
He said: “We are only focusing on it to maximise its benefits for us and our people.”