Worried about the high rate of youth unemployment, a professor of Agricultural Economics, at the Michael Opkara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Uzochukwu Onyebinama, has urged the Federal Government to embrace the model of the Umunwaoha Renaissance Forum (URF), Ohii, Owerri West Local Council of Imo State, by establishing an agro-based scheme to tackle youth restiveness in the country.
He also advocated the establishment of grain production centres at strategic places across the country.
The former chairman of the university’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), who made the disclosure during a pre-inauguration lecture of the executive of URF at the FIFA centre, Ohii noted that advanced nations would always take such advantage to grow from strength to strength economically.
He blamed the growing youth unemployment on the problem, describing it as a ‘scourge.’
‘’Advanced nations took such examples. We as a country, we have failed to exploit that advantage, that is why youth unemployment has been a scourge.’’
While commending the initiative of the forum formed by some professionals, including Dr. Hycienth Ugorji and like minds in the area, Onyebinama said the topic of the lecture: ‘’Diversifying Nigeria’s Economy, Political, Security and Sensitive Issues on Youth Employment’’, was very imperative in view of the growing geometrical rate of unemployment, especially among youths in these climes.
In as much as he advised entrepreneurs to be ‘risk takers’, he emphasised the need to have innovative minds, advising that government at all levels should create an enabling environment for young ones to have self-employment.
While promising to offer the service of writing and producing bankable proposals for any youth willing to have it, he said: ‘’You need to have bankable, repayable and enough profit, principal and interest. I offer to help any youth to produce a bankable proposal.’’
The President of the forum, Samuel Odili Eremba, said the body was put together by the group to contribute to tackling youth unemployment in the area, especially paying attention to agriculture and related fields, noting that the problem was becoming unbearable and needing attention via agricultural sector.
