Gov. Ahmed seeks for collective efforts to revamp ailing economy
NAN-HE-14
Economy
By Usman Aliyu
Ilorin, Sept 29, 2016 (NAN) Gov Abdulfatah Ahmed on Thursday advocated for the collaboration of all stakeholders to revamp the ailing economy.
Ahmed made the call in Ilorin at a Peace and Entrepreneurship Summit, organised by the National Association of Kwara State Students (NAKSS).
The governor, who applauded the students’ union for the initiative, stressed the need for collective efforts to revamp the economy.
According to him, the theme of the summit, “the role of Kwara students in economic diversification, curbing the menace of social vices in the tertiary institutions”, is timely considering situation in the country.
He said the only measure that could rescue the economy was diversification through agriculture and solid minerals.
“Everybody must go back to farm and produce what wii feed the nation.
“Youth should also engage in vocational skills. Students need to acquire skill in vocation in addition to the academic qualifications”, he said.
Ahmed advised the students to embrace entrepreneurship skill and engage in small and medium enterprises to stimulate the economy and increase the country’s GDP growth.
He, however, warned the students against membership of cults, urging them to collaborate with security agencies to address the menace alongside other social vices.
“It is worrisome that 95 per cent of social vices that are committed in the society today are perpetrated by the youth.
“I, therefore, urge the youth to positively engage in productive things that would work for the development of the country”, he said.
The chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Wahab Babatunde, identified lack of political will and inconsistent government policy as bane of economic diversification in the country.
Babatunde, who is the Chief of Staff to Gov. Ahmed, said the rate of unemployment would keep on rising if Nigeria continued to depend on oil and students depended on white collar job.
“Today we are struggling against political emancipation again; it is not a struggle against military government and not a struggle against colonial master.
“It is a struggle against poverty and struggle against economic hardship”, he said.
Represented by Mr Sam Adefila, the chief of staff commended the students for coming up with the programme instead of engaging in aluta struggle.
Earlier, the President of the union, Afeez Oyedepo, said the summit would examine the role of Kwara students in economic diversification, to revamp the national economy. (NAN)
AUO/IA
(Edited by Idris Abdulrahman)