By Anayo Okoli

UMUAHIA—THE president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, has been urged to invest in agriculture to fulfil his campaign promise of combating hunger.

Senior Special Assistant on Agriculture to Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State, Chief Obinna Ibiam, who made the call, weekend, also urged the president-elect to fight unemployment through massive investment in agriculture.

He emphasized the need to create more opportunity to rural farmers by empowering them through provision of agricultural inputs.

Speaking to journalists in Umuahia, Ibiam noted that proceeds from agriculture would augment the nation’s earnings in the face of dwindling oil revenue.

According to him, President Goodluck Jonathan did well through the establishment of SURE-P, through which thousands of youths were given employment.

He urged the president-elect to sustain the programme to boost job creation.

Ibiam commended Buhari for his pledge to fight hunger and unemployment, and reminded him that the peoples’ expectations of him were very high.

Ibiam, who is also Abia State Director, Youth for Agriculture in Nigeria, a non-governmental organization, said the contribution of agriculture to the development of the economy was immense.

He commended Governor Theodore Orji for his effort in youth empowerment and congratulated Abia State governor-elect, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, for his victory in the last election, urging him to work for the good of Abia people.