Today on the Awakening Program, we will discus, “Employment Creation and the Future of Farming in the South East”

Unemployment is undoubtedly the biggest challenge facing young people in Nigeria.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics in 2019, Nigeria’s unemployment rate was 23.1% and the underemployment rate was 16.6%.

As at 2019, there were projections that the unemployment rate could be as high as 33.5% by 2020. It is obvious that the current rate of unemployment will supersede the earlier projections especially with the outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic and its resultant economic impacts.
Agriculture remains the biggest source of employment in Nigeria and it has incredible potentials to provide even more employment and income generation if a productive alternative is provided to crude methods of farming majorly used across the country.
The focus of this discussion is to highlight the role of agriculture as a viable source of employment creation and, to evaluate the future of farming in the south east especially with the non-willingness of young people to embrace farming as a means of livelihood.

. #theawakeningp

On #theAwakeningp program 6th August
Our focus on the Awakening program last month was The Impact of COVID19 Pandemic on Nigerian Youths.

Our Focus for the month of August is, “INCREASING YOUTHS PARTICIPATION IN AGRICULTURE”.
Nigeria is blessed with diverse resources including agricultural resources. Despite the enormous potential of agriculture in the country, Nigeria still grapples with various challenges which include high poverty rates, hunger, and starvation, food insecurity among others.

Unfortunately, the diverse agricultural resources in the country which has great potentials in providing employment, income generation, and food security for Nigeria’s teeming youth population has been grossly underutilized.

At the moment, the country is yet to achieve self-sufficiency in agricultural production and still depends significantly on imported agricultural products. There has also been a sheer unwillingness of the young population of the country to dive into the agricultural sector.
The government in a desperate bid to diversify the country’s economy especially as oil-prices has continued to fall in the global market, has increased emphasis on agriculture lately.

Despite the government’s efforts in revitalizing the agricultural sector, there is much more work to be done in ensuring the transformation of the agricultural landscape to make it attractive for young Nigerians.
It is in the light of this that the Awakening program seeks to beam its searchlight on youths and agriculture in Nigeria, with emphasis on the South-East geo-political region. Join the discussion this August every Thursday on
@dream925fm
&
@flo949fm
from 2-3pm

Missing those good old days

Agric practicals in schools aren't generating enough interest in agriculture. Students aren't informed well on the processes of making agric a profitable business, so it just ended as a fun activity for most students. Do you agree?
#theawakeningp
#ekwendigbo
#thefutureofnigerianyouths
@iSERVE2050
@042Jide
@EkweNdigbo
@theawakeningp

Yesterday on @TheAwakeningp of @southsaharandevelopmentorganisation
Chimereze of Merez Integrated Agric Enterprise challenged and encouraged his fellow youths. He says:
The youths ... are experiencing the same challenges. We are not doing enough in agriculture because most of us have not be re oriented to see the business prospects in agriculture. Those who are doing it now have re oriented their mindset to see the business prospect in it. If most young people ... see the projections and good prospects in Agriculture they will get involved, they love profitable ventures. Re orientation is very important now. This reorientation should start from primary and secondary school children.
#theawakeningp
#ekwendigbo
@EkweNdigbo

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, South-West chapter has directed its members to sell Premium Motor Spirit, aka fuel at N150 per litre in their filling station. The new price represents a N5 increment…

Me: President Buhari, you are doing well!

https://www.orientenergyreview.....com/news/ipman-dire

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*THISDAY*
Standard Chartered Launches Premium Banking for Clients
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*PUNCH*
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*DOMINION MANDATE DAILY DEVOTION*

FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 2020

*SHUN BUSTERS, HOLD ON TO BOOSTERS*

*BIBLE READING: PROVERBS 13:20*

*“The man of too many friends [chosen indiscriminately] will be broken in pieces and come to ruin, But there is a [true, loving] friend who [is reliable and] sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs‬ ‭18:24‬ ‭(AMP).*

We have established that isolation leads to destruction and to go far in life, we have to go together in unity with friendships and relationships that matter. Today however, we are going to look at one of the things we must give attention to, in choosing true friends.

In life, we meet and associate with a lot of people. The choice of who to bring into close relationship with us is very crucial because it will determine to a large extent, our success or failure in life. The person you are today is a sum total of the three closest relationships in your life. A wise man once said “show me your friend and I will tell you who you are.” All the people in your life can be separated into two broad categories. You have the “Boosters” and the “Busters”.

A booster is a person who edifies and uplifts you. When you are down, the person helps to raise you up to stand on your feet. When you go wrong, they point it out to you in love and will help to stabilise you on the right path. They boost you and help you become a better version of yourself amidst glaring obstacles. The person who is a booster is the one who will pray with you, for you, encourage you, and help you develop capacity so you can attain and become the person God created you to be by ordination. Jonathan was a booster to David when he was facing trials and persecution from king Saul, he helped to shield David, swore a covenant with David which he kept by hiding him and helping him escape king Saul. (1 Samuel 18:3).

Busters on the other hand, are people who prevent you from becoming who God has destined you to be directly or indirectly. They help waste your time, resources and your life. They never have anything good or positive to say about you or others. If you have friends whose only interests are having fun, going on the next shopping spree or hitting the clubs every weekend, then they are busters. If you have friends who always discourage you, talk down your ideas and deride you, friends who make you feel less than worthy and make you think that you will amount to nothing, and that your dreams will never happen, you have found a buster. They are the ones who will give you counsel that will destroy you and even help you on the path of destruction. In Scripture, Amnon David’s first son had such a friend; his name was Jonadab. You can find the story in 2 Samuel 13. He gave Amnon the counsel that led him to rape his half-sister Tamar and this eventually led to his death at the hands of Absalom. Another buster identified in the scripture is recorded in the story of the old prophet in Bethel who lied and deceived the young man of God from Judah, that led to his untimely death. (1 Kings 13:11-25).

Examine the relationships in your life today, are there boosters you have been taking for granted, draw them closer to you. You need such friends to attain your full potentials and exercise dominion in your sphere. However, cut off the busters today and see your life move on to the next level.

*PRAYER
Father, I thank You because You have made great plans for my life. I pray that You order my steps to become friends with people who would challenge me to be all that You have planned that I should be. I ask for the Spirit of discernment to know my friends and the courage to separate myself from destructive relationships in Jesus’ Name.