The Chairman, Board of Directors, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Pius Akinyelure has called on Nigerians to embrace subsistence farming to address the challenge of food crisis in the country.

Akinyelure who gave this advice, during the 2024 Idanre Honours Award by the Idanre Development Assembly, noted that for the country to achieve food sufficiency and overcome the present hardship, youths and other Nigerians must go back to the farm.

He urged youths to go back to farming to become self-reliant and fight poverty, and unemployment and boost the socio-economic development of the country.

Stressing the importance of farming, he maintained that refusing to go back to the farm would result in importing food while the nation is blessed with lands that flow with milk and honey.

He, however, called on the state and federal government to assist farmers to encourage them in order to boost agriculture and ensure food security in the state, by supporting farmers with mechanised farming equipment.

He also stressed the need for farmers to familiarise themselves with modern technologies for mass production of farm produce for the sustainability of food security.

He said “We will be talking without listening governor of Ondo state to make farming attractive through the distribution of farm input, fertilizers, tractors and other things to encourage farmers.

“If we don’t go back to the farm, where will we get food? We will be importing and the cost of importation is too high.

“So the only way out is to go back to the farm, make sure there is security for the farmers so that they are not driven away from their farm and then we can have enough food to feed our nation.

“The modern equipment will give people access to engage in large-scale modern agriculture, as we cannot continue to use cutlasses and hoes. State governments should assist and advise local councils to purchase agricultural implements for farmers to hire.

“I want my people and other Nigerians to know that farming is the only common activity one can do to sustain living.

“No society can live comfortably without agriculture; agriculture is the major source of livelihood of every family, and nation and its importance cannot be overemphasised to the development of any society.

“Apart from ensuring food security, farming also provides job opportunities and boosts the revenue of the state and the country at large.”

He stressed that adequate security should be provided to ensure that farmers can cultivate their farms in peace and are not been driven away from their farms.

Speaking on community development, Akinyelure called on the people of the Idanre community to join hands with their leaders to develop the ancient town, stressing the need for selfless service for the community to enhance economic growth and development.

He said, “There is a need for the people in the community to enhance the development of the Idanre community because the government alone cannot shoulder the full responsibility.

“We have sons and daughters living within and outside the state who can contribute their quota towards the socio-economic development of the people in the town.

“I feel very happy for being recognized for the good job that we have put together for our community. Our people took the opportunity of this occasion to let the governor know areas where we need help. I’m sure I will pursue them and hopefully, we will get good results.”

In his remark, the State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa urged the indigenous sons and daughters of the state to always plan towards contributing to the development of their towns.

The governor pledged unwavering support to the development of the Idanre community, emphasising the importance of fostering groundbreaking development initiatives to uplift the state’s indigenous population.

He described the awards bestowed on Akinyelure and other distinguished members of the community as deserving for their contribution towards the ancient town of Idanre, saying Akinyelure’s legacy will be remembered for many years to come.

He commended Akinyelure for his humanitarian services, urging other members of the community to emulate his selfless service to the community, state and the nation.

The President General of IDA, Chief Anthony Omolola, said the event was put together to appreciate the effort of the great leaders of the town who have contributed to the development of the town.

“Today’s event is very remarkable, we thank God for the lives of our aged ones, past heroes and living ones.

“We did this to appreciate what they have done, those in the past, to also encourage those that are still in office or in one capacity or the other to be able to do more for their community.

“Those that have contributed, we want to encourage them and to also inform the young ones that they should think about their home, we don’t want to remember people after death, we want to talk good about them in their present and this is one of the reasons for this event.

Those honoured include Akinyelure, Late Chief Gabriel Akin Deko, Late Prince Afolabi Ayinuola, Retired Honorable Justice Sunday Akintan, and Chief Mrs. Omolara Ogomudia.