Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, has reiterated that agric business is key to the development of the country.
He made this assertion during the 2016 Independence Day programme organised by the Useful Youth, Owu Baptist Church, Abeokuta on Saturday.
While speaking on the topic “Nigeria Development for Nigerians by Nigerians”. Obasanjo said that agric-business was the only area the nation could beat development and generate millions of employment if taken seriously.
“Agric business also includes manufacturing because when you take cassava and you turn it to starch, that’s manufacturing and when you take your starch and you turn it to glucose that’s manufacturing. “When you take your Cocoa and you turn it to Cocoa powder, that’s manufacturing, when you turn Cocoa powder to chocolate, that’s also manufacturing.
“That’s part of the value chain in agric-business and that is a very key aspect of our development, agric business adding value to whatever commodities we produced and creating job for millions of our people particularly the youths, “he said.
Chief Obasanjo, identified security, transportation, communication, information trade, peace and employment as elements of development in any nation. He said that all these items had to be taken seriously for the growth of the nation, adding that the development of the country should be a collective responsibility
On the independence celebration, Obasanjo said Nigerians that are opportune to live and witness the 56th independence day celebration should give glory to God. “Whoever that has lived to witness the celebration of today, we should thank God, things are not what they should be but we should pray that next year will be better than this year. “We thank God for those who are alive, we prayed for the souls of those who have laboured for these country and who have passed on rest in perfect peace.