Nigeria’s future is in private sector agriculture
Mr Azeez Oluwole, the Chief Marketing Officer, FarmKonnect Agribusiness in Nigeria, says a greater future awaits the country in a private sector driven agriculture.
Oluwole said in Ibadan during the end of the year review and dinner with Chief Executive Officers of some organisations.
He said that the future of agriculture in Nigeria lied with the private sector, adding that government could only create enabling environment to make it flourish.
Oluwole identified commercial agriculture as a major sector where countries in Africa could record major landmarks.
The FarmKonnect boss reiterated that the objective of bringing owners of companies together was to network, build and strengthen their businesses.
“I know that socialisation is a very important thing for the people to network, build, increase and strengthen their business.
“One of those things that make that happen is food, which is an agricultural business. We bring agriculture, food and commerce together because every state or nation will succeed when it takes commercial aspects of agriculture seriously,” he said.
He said that the company was into ‘Smart Agriculture’ having understood that the future of Africa was agriculture and depended greatly on information technology.
“Smart Agriculture is using technology, human beings commit mistakes when it comes to agriculture, we need automation.
“We need things that will take all your instructions, and that is computer; to have accurate information about what is happening on the field, to protect investment and increase its base,” he said.
Oluwole enumerated the performance of the company in terms of creating employment opportunities.
He said that the company started with just 10 individuals and was currently having 35 workers as administrative staff apart from the large number of people working on the farms as well as in extension service.
“Igbeja Snail Village with potential staff strength of 1,000 and Wave City Project, which is its replica is currently running in Imo State.
“This will take not less than 2,000 people when it is launched in March with Osun State Government.
“The company is in operation with support from sister companies and in partnership with many companies in Asia, Europe, America and in Nigeria,” he said.