The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) says it will inaugurate mechanised farms in all the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to commemorate its 40th anniversary.
The National President of the association, Mr Sunday Asefon, made this known in Abuja on Wednesday at a news conference to mark the anniversary scheduled to hold on April 28.
Asefon said that the project tagged: ”Operation School to Farm’ would be launched during the anniversary.
He said that the objective of the project is to contribute meaningfully to the concerted efforts of the federal and state governments in tackling youth unemployment in the country.
The president added that the project would also redirect the talents and abundant energies of the students in tertiary institutions away from internet fraud and other criminal activities.
Asefon said that the association also proposed the establishment of student-owned Incubation/Skill Acquisition Centres in all states of the country.
He also said, ”We will also launch the “Nigerian Students Travel Safe and Cheap Scheme’ to ameliorate the sufferings of students and eliminate threats posed by kidnappers, armed robbers and carnage on roads from auto crashes.
“The proposed launch of “Operation School to Farm” is a decisive and bold response of Nigerian students to President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to all state governors to establish farm estates to boost food sufficiency.
“In view of this, we hereby call on President Buhari to urgently prevail on the 36 state governors, FCT minister, Ministers of Agriculture, Education, Trade and Investment, Labour and Productivity, Youths and Sports and concerned agencies of government to work together with NANS to bring the legacy projects into fruition.
“We also call on the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed and Governor of Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele, to provide the needed financial backing and policy framework to ensure the success of the three legacy projects,” he said.
The president enjoined the organised private sector, federal and state governments, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), mass media, traditional rulers and other well-meaning Nigerians to support the laudable initiatives.
He added that NANS would publish and launch a historical compendium during the anniversary celebration in order to raise funds to kick start the legacy projects.
Asefon explained that the association chose to go into farming due to the dependency of the country on importation which had not been helping the country.
He said that the tertiary institutions has vast land, if well utilised would make students employers of labour, as well as increase the revenue generation of the country.
