By Ebere Agozie

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mohammed Ndarani, has called for more empowerment of Nigerians with skills in education and agriculture for  sustainable development and food security.

Ndarani made the call on Saturday in Abuja at the ‘Colloquium on Agriculture’ and an Endowment Fund launch for the Etsu Yahaya Abubakar Foundation, where he also made a donation of N30 million.

The senior lawyer is a traditional title holder of Hukuncin Nupe and member Board of Trustees of the foundation, which is for the empowerment of the less privileged.

He said the foundation would be working with relevant stakeholders to ensure that the rights of Nigerians are upheld, irrespective of their class.

“Every human has the right to adequate, sufficient, and healthy food, and this is stated in Article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

“It is part of the fundamental objectives and directive principles of State policy, contained in Chapter 2 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, to ensure that suitable and adequate food is provided for all citizens.

“Their rights to decent housing will also be upheld. Article 16(2) of the Constitution recognizes the right to adequate housing, socio-economic rights, rights to education and healthcare.

“The role of the foundation is all-encompassing which will help fight poverty from all angles,’’ he said.

The learned silk reiterated that the foundation would leverage on the untapped potential of Nigerian youths to serve as a catalyst to the economic growth and development of Nigeria.

“The foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of people through various programmes, including education, community development, health and wellness, poverty alleviation, scholarship and skill development, community infrastructure, food security, and economic growth.

“Our intervention will empower farmers and agric-preneurs to reinforce agriculture as a viable economic driver in the country.

“The goal is to empower people to become independent and be able to take care of their individual needs.’’

Ndarani emphasised the importance of empowering youths through skills acquisition and employment opportunities.

He also expressed hope that Niger state’s development success would serve as a benchmark for replication across the country.

He commended Gov. Umar Bago for his tireless efforts to drive progress and development in the state, which have greatly benefited its people.

“I commend the governor for his outstanding leadership and commitment to the development of Niger State. His respect for traditional institutions, particularly the Etsu Nupe and other traditional rulers.”

He also acknowledged the invaluable contributions of the Etsu Nupe for his wisdom and dedication to promoting peace and development in Nupeland, Niger State, and Nigeria.

Etsu Nupe and Chairman Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Dr Yahaya Abubakar, said the event was for stakeholders to brainstorm and proffer solutions to the teething problems deterring the development of agriculture in Nigeria.

“Our primary aim is to establish a foundation that caters for the indigent in the areas of Education, health, Youth and Women empowerment, among others.

“We align this foundation’s objectives with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at driving economic growth, enhancing living standards, and fostering national development.’’

He commended the partnerships between Silicon Valley Nigeria, NYSC, and the Niger Government on agricultural projects, adding that it has the potential for transformative initiatives in the sector. (NAN)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz