Osinbajo Tasks NIPSS As Class 39 Is Inaugurated

BY CHAMBERLAIN ODEY (JOS)
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo ON Monday tasked participants of the senior executive course, SEC 39, of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) on the theme of this year’s study.
Speaking during the inauguration of the SEC 39, Osinbajo, who was represented by the deputy governor of Plateau state, Professor Sonni Tyoden, reminded the participants that “President Muhammadu Buhari approved (the) theme of study at NIPSS this year because he believes that the agricultural sector provides enormous potentials for quick industrialization in Nigeria”.
He explained further that “this theme could not have come at a better time than now”, because “this administration is committed to revamping the agricultural sector through the application of science, technology and innovation ( ST&i)”.
“Developing the agricultural sector”, he said, “is the clear starting point of our quest for not only diversification of our hitherto mono-cultural economy away from oil, it is also the only guarantee for rapid industrialisation”.
“We must radically transform agriculture to improve its contribution to the GDP as well as promote sustainable food production in the country”, Osinbajo enumerated further, pointing out that “according to the second quarter report of the National Bureau of Statistics, August 2016, the contribution of agriculture to our GDP as at the second quarter of 2016 was 22.55%, which is higher than those of manufacturing and oil sectors combined”.
Beyond this, he said, “Nigeria remains an agrarian economy, with over 70% of informal sector jobs created from this sector”.
Earlier in his welcome address, the acting director-general of the
Institute, Jonathan Juma, hinted on the importance of the event when he underscored the Acting President’s presence as evidence of “the high esteem in which he holds the National Institute”.
Juma explained that “the inauguration ceremony is indeed a vital
component of the senior executive course”, adding that “this event is special because NIPSS has assembled 66 distinguished Nigerians from different walks of life who would be inducted into the prestigious senior executive course”.