Agric entrepreneurship will boost economic growth – Epelle

Dennis Epelle, national chairman, Agric Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria (AEAN), has said that the Federal Government’s effort to fast-track the growth of the economy and create jobs for the masses will only be realised through real focus and massive mobilisation of agric business entrepreneurs.

He stated that the Federal Government should channel more resources to agriculture by providing enabling environment for agric entrepreneurs to thrive.

“This also requires an economic landscape that allows socio-economic visibility of agric business, entrepreneurs at the policy, business, and institution platforms of the economy”, he said.

He also noted that “it is very important that the Federal Government as well as the state governments understand that it is agric business that can deliver us from poverty, grow the economy, create job opportunities for the Nigerian teeming population”.

Epelle, who spoke exclusively to BusinessDay in his office, said, “We have been so endowed with a lot of potentials as a nation and every part of Nigeria is blessed and agricultural production has be neglected for so long”. According to him, AEAN is an umbrella association for entrepreneurs in agric business, intending individuals, as well as corporate organisations that are into any of the several agric value chain businesses.

The association he said is to complement government’s effort in solving the socio-economic problems in the agric industry and act as a catalyst to boost the enthusiasm of Nigerians to invest in the agric value chain business as well as attract investors in Nigeria and Diaspora to take advantage of the huge agricultural potential.

Speaking further, the secretary of the association, Jolomi Amorighoye, said the association has a team of dedicated, hard working and honest people who are genuinely passionate about the development of agriculture in the country.