By Daniel Gumm

AS the present administration intensifies efforts to drive the economy through agriculture, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, yesterday, proffered ways to transform the sector as a key sector for job creation, food security and foreign exchange earner.

Speaking in his office, yesterday, when he received the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of NEPC, Mr Olusegun Awolowo, who was on a courtesy visit, the Minister, Chief Audu Ogbe, lamented that the country had not been able to achieve the full potentials of the sector when compared to its abundant human and natural resources, especially in the agriculture and solid mineral sectors.

The Minister announced plans to organise a national agricultural summit aimed at engaging the youths to get their buy-in and change the orientation that agriculture was only meant for never-do-wells in the society even as he commended NEPC for articulating a zero oil plan to support the rapid diversification of the nation’s economy through non-oil exports.

Noting that although there were several inhibitions to achieving a total diversification from oil to non-oil, the Minister was, however, optimistic that the challenges were not insurmountable.