The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has announced that the Federal Government will create about 490,000 jobs through its recently launched Smart Farmers ICT platform.
He made the remark at the 30th Lagos International Trade Fair, with the theme: ”Positioning the Nigerian Economy for Diversification and Sustainable Growth,” over the weekend.
Urging Nigerians to embrace positive change towards job creation in a bid to turn around Nigeria’s fortunes, Ngige stated that the government is determined to fight unemployment.
The Minister said, “Prior to the discovery of oil in Nigeria, the bedrock of the economy was agriculture. At independence, agricultural accounted for 70 percent of GDP. 25 years after independence, we experienced an ugly reversal with food items accounting for over 50 per cent of imports.
“When we say agriculture holds the key to effective, functional and sustainable economic diversification, we are sure of our convictions.”
Recall that a Media aide to the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, Laolu Akande, had recently disclosed that 200, 000 graduates had been employed by the Federal Government to work as teachers and agriculture extension workers across the country.
