ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The spiritual leader of the Revival City International Retreat and Conference Centre, Enugu, Bishop Deborah Macfoy Akachukwu, has shared her perspective on tackling Nigeria’s economic challenges.
In a recent interview with journalists in Enugu, the renowned cleric and spiritual leader, outlined a comprehensive plan to uplift the nation’s economy.
She called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to prioritise agriculture and engage youths in farming, to combat unemployment and enhance food production, in order to curb the economic challenges facing the country.
Reflecting on the critical role of agriculture, Bishop Deborah reiterated the urgency of prioritising this sector for economic revitalization, and encouraged youths’ involvement.
Deborah, who said that prioritising agriculture will serve as catalyst for economic growth and development, urged policymakers, stakeholders, and the public to unite in support of this vital sector, saying,
“Together, we can cultivate a brighter future for Nigeria by embracing agriculture as the cornerstone of our nation’s prosperity.
“Agriculture is the backbone of our economy and holds the key to addressing unemployment and boosting food production. We must prioritise agriculture as a national priority and invest resources to unlock its full potential.
“Engaging our youth in agriculture is not only essential for their economic empowerment but also crucial for the future sustainability of our food supply. We must encourage young people to see farming as a viable and rewarding career path.
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“The prosperity of our nation is linked to the success of our agricultural sector. By investing in agriculture, we can create jobs, alleviate poverty, and ensure food security for generations to come.
“We need to modernise agriculture and make it more appealing to the younger generation. This includes incorporating technology, providing access to finance and markets, and offering training and mentorship programmes tailored to the needs of young farmers,” she said.
With a blend of spiritual wisdom and practical solutions, Bishop Deborah emphasised the importance of addressing underlying economic issues rather than relying solely on short-term solutions.
Promoting exports, according to her, is another key strategy to solving the nation’s economic challenges, even as importation, she said, will worsen inflation.
She suggested that leveraging Nigeria’s abundant natural resources will help to expand agricultural exports, thereby diversifying the economy and reducing dependence on imports.
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“Importing food may provide temporary relief, but I think it is only going to worsen inflation itself, because as long as we’re not exporting, and we’re importing and inflation is not stable, the cost of anything as regards purchased, has continued to worsen.
“Promoting exports can not only earn foreign exchange but also benefit the local market by reducing food prices through spill-over effects,” she explained.
“In Nigeria today, we have too many forces and factors that are colliding, they are battling with foreign exchange reserves, we are battling with foreign exchange rates, we are also battling with the importation crisis, we are battling with so many things at the same time.
So if you ask people to import food, it is going to worsen the present dollar exchange rate situation,” she said.
She further proposed initiatives to provide training and resources to young farmers, encouraging them to embrace farming as a viable career path.
She called on the government to seek deeper analysis of the root causes of inflation and food insecurity, and emphasised the importance of timely distribution of fertilisers and seeds to farmers to maximise the agricultural potential of the land.
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Identifying education and training as essential pillars for economic revitalization, she said, “Education and training are crucial. We need to revive agricultural extension services and engage youth in farming from an early age to instil interest and skills,”
Also, she advocated for partnerships between educational institutions and agricultural organisations to provide practical training and mentorship opportunities for aspiring farmers.
Stressing the importance of improving transportation and storage facilities to ensure food availability and stabilise prices, she said, “Improving transportation and storage facilities is vital to bridge the gap between food surplus and scarcity, ensuring food availability and stabilising prices.”
The Bishop called for investment in infrastructure to enhance the efficiency of food distribution networks, reducing post-harvest losses and increasing access to markets for farmers.
Bishop Deborah said by prioritising agriculture, promoting exports, investing in education, and upgrading infrastructure, Nigeria can embark on a path towards economic prosperity and food security for all its citizens.