Aregbesola @62: Nigeria Must Embrace Productivity – Hamzat

The Deputy Governor-Elect of Lagos state, Dr Obafemi Hamzat has urged Nigerians to embrace productivity as a measure to enhancing greater economic prosperity of the country.

He said productivity, a major impetus of inclusive growth can only be achieved through deliberate efforts geared in critical sectors of the economy especially Agriculture which will in turn make for sustainable development.

Presenting a paper on sustainable development at the 4th Annual Raufnomics colloquium in commemoration of the 62nd Birthday of the Former Governor of the state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in Osogbo on Saturday, the Lagos Deputy Governor-Elect urged Nigerians to downplay the mentality of Nigeria as being a “rich country where everyone constantly seeks for oil proceeds.”

Dr Hamzat who spoke extensively on the approach of India and Brazil to allieviating poverty during a 10-year period stressed the need for policies centered on areas that will eradicate poverty and create a new consuming class.

The Guest Speaker at the event lauded the initiative of the immediate past administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in developing the Osun Rural Enterprise And Agricultural Programme O-REAP template, an all-encompassing framework that if continuously implemented will boost the fortunes of the state.

”I am aware that Ogbeni has laid the foundation for Osun to be the breadbasket of the Southwest. Asides the huge infrastructural development in the State, the Conceptualization and Implementation of the Osun Rural Enterprise & Agriculture Programme (O-REAP) – a robust programme with a focus on mass food production with the plan to create jobs, provide food security, wealth creation leading to increased household income and IGR.

”O-REAP is an audacious plan and has brought an all inclusive programme involving small holder farmers (including women and youths), large scale investors and has enabled a number of innovation in the agriculture sector of the State.”

He noted that the quantum of positive gains from the Agricultural programmes under O-REAP resulted in Osun’s position as; 2nd Highest Human Development Index (48%), Lowest poverty rate (37.9%), Net secondary school attendance rate; (77%), second to
Lagos, Average annual population growth of 3%, Average annual growth rate of 10%.”

”The State of Osun is therefore on the path to moving the population, especially the Critical 5 – 44 years old group, (70% of Population) out of poverty spurred by infrastructural development and Agriculture.”

The incoming Lagos Deputy Governor added that “A number of recognitions and acknowledgement have been given to the State and Ogbeni within and outside Nigeria for the impact of the various programmes implemented under O-REAP.”

”Ogbeni has laid the foundation; and I am confident that the current Governor, His Excellency Gboyega Oyetola will certainly sustain the development.

”Osun can emulate Cote d’Ivoire. Her largest sector is agriculture, engaging roughly 68% of the labor force. There are 600,000 farmers producing cocoa and about 6 million people working in the cocoa industry in Cote d’Ivoire. In 2017, they produced 1.8 million tons of cocoa. It accounted for 40% of exports and 10% of GDP.”

He expressed confidence in the ability of Governor Gboyega Oyetola to deliver on the mantra of continuity instituted by the Rauf Aregbesola regime.