AGRIPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATIVE THINKING CONFERENCE IN CELEBRATION OF GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK

As an institution set up to drive entrepreneurship within Africa, and joining the global entrepreneurship community, the CBN South-South Entrepreneurship Development Centre, organized Agripreneurship and Innovative Conference to celebrate the Global Entrepreneurship week.  “After carefully studying the critical role entrepreneurship play in the economies of developed countries, and taking into consideration the massive opportunities in the agricultural sector and the need for young people with innovative ideas to take advantage of such opportunities, necessitated this event”, Mr. Simon Adeba who stood in for SS EDC Manager said during his welcome address.
The director in the Ministry of Agriculture in Cross River State, Dr Alban Nwogu spoke on “Government Efforts in Agricultural Sector” - its importance to individuals, the state as well as Nigeria. He stated that it is very important for people to own Agricultural projects and invest in them. However there are necessary trainings such people need to undergo before they can start business such as the programme run by SS EDC. He equally identified deforestation as the best way for farmers to maintain a year round cocoa farming process, as the Government is out to support such farmers by providing free cocoa pods and training for them. Dr. Nwogu went on to mention other government programmes for farmers to benefit as Growth Enhancement Scheme in which farmers are given free seeds such as rice, yellow maze, 50% off cost of fertilizers, introducing cucumber seeds as well as training famers on how to properly use chemical on their farms. The biggest applauds came when he informed the participants that Government has formed a committee on land acquisition to help improve access to land in all the LGAs, and that government leases such lands for 50years from committees.
In his own address “Land Yied – Role of International Agencies”, Dr. Danny Palletier of Cuso International said his organization started over a year ago and has been helping young people in Nigeria particularly in Cross River State to start businesses, provide entrepreneurship and leadership training through SS EDC. “It is believed that young people have unlimited potential, skills, imagination, luck (being in the right place at the right time), national resources and agriculture are vital for young entrepreneurs. The benefits of entrepreneurship include employment creation, technological innovation, investment in agriculture in Africa (Nigeria) and innovation through research. Nigeria imports more Agricultural products than it produces, if the government can focus on developing and producing its food, there is a potential of self-sustainability thereby providing income for local farmers and reduced importation”, Dr. Danny told his audience.
Other highlights of the occasion were panel session on Innovative thinking and access to market and presentation by Team Charis (Best Innovative Team at San Francisco Innovative challenge).
Contributing to the discussion, one of the participants, Mr. Akpan Ogar tasked the government to come up with proper data base of organization of farmers. And to bridge gaps between government and farmers by creating more awareness. Another participant, Mrs Asuquo Esther encouraged government to invest more into research in other to help farmers benefit more from results of such researches.