On Stomachs and Infrastructures; TEDxYabaSalon Discusses Sustainability in the Nigerian Agricultural Sector, this November

On 2nd November 2019, the final TEDxYabaSalon event for the year will attempt to address the topic of sustainability and viability of Nigeria’s agricultural sector which in recent times has been touted as the answer to reviving the nation’s failing economy.

While it is true that Nigeria must wane off its over-reliance on crude oil and petroleum-based exports, is there really enough evidence to believe Agriculture can adequately serve as a replacement for the country’s oil and gas sector which even though it has not been fully harnessed contributed about $38.0 billion to the nation’s 2018 GDP?

With not more than three speakers as well as a panel session, this salon event will attempt to answer practical questions such as: What reforms must Nigeria’s agricultural sector witness to be ready for the responsibility of being the leading source of the country’s revenue? For a sector considered to be encumbered by the lack of access to resources, poor transportation, and adequate support in terms of technology and machinery, where is the room for growth and improvement?

If the desire is to have a diversified economy, shouldn’t we be more concerned with shifting away from relying excessively on a single sector and also investing across multiple sectors? Or is our quest to return back to agriculture a nostalgic craving for the past?

It is also needful to ask if a country like Nigeria — beleaguered with political unrest, violence, internal displacement and corruption — can sufficiently feed itself?

Finally, taking a look at the areas in the country’s agricultural advancement that political action is earnestly required, it may be time to rethink our interpretation of the popular dictum ‘Stomach Infrastructure’, as we call for intervention from the same people who present this as substantial dividends of democracy?

Register to attend here.