Nigerians must invest in Nigeria, says US Ambassador

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The United States Ambassador  to Nigeria, Mr Stuart Symington, on Monday urged Nigerians to focus on how to make their  country better by investing in the resources that abound in Nigeria.

He said that tapping into the country’s resources and investing in them would improve the economy.

Symington gave the advice when he paid a courtesy visit to the Director-General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan.

According to the ambassador, IITA’s research initiatives were  highly commendable,  especially in the development of agriculture in Nigeria and Africa at large.

“Nigeria is filled with places, creatures of beauty; the citizens should appreciate God’s blessings in the country and guard the resources jealously.

“Every Nigerian should think of no other thing than what can be done to improve Nigeria and make it better,” he said.

The IITA Director-General, Dr Nteranya Sanginga, had earlier said the institute plays a vital role in revitalising agriculture in Africa, emphasizing that 86 per cent of cassava planted in Nigeria originate from IITA

Sanginga also said  IITA engages  youths in agriculture through its agri-prenuer programme, urging Nigeria to  improve its agriculture  sector in order to attract youths  into farming.

“We need to change the mindset of Nigerians about agriculture;  there is need to make agriculture a business and not just a hobby,” he said.