Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola have urged university graduates to abandon their University or Polytechnic certificates and embrace farming as a viable alternative to white collar job.
The governor, who spoke as a result of increased rate of unemployment among Nigerian youths gave the charge while delivering a speech at the 6th Convocation Ceremony of Fountain University, Osogbo.
He added that the present economic situation has revealed that Nigerians need to embrace farming as the only alternative to crude oil.
Aregbesola explained further that agriculture is a more lucrative venture and Nigerian graduates must henceforth cease the search for white collar jobs that are unavailable.
He said, “There is need for us, especially our young graduates to lead the nation in promoting agriculture as the only realistic surviving alternative to economy. We must embrace farming because it is only agriculture that has direct links to all aspects of life.
“Nigeria has grown to the stage through which her food production capacity must be urgently expanded to meet the general needs of the citizenry and as well enhance exportation.
“The time to enhance productivity has come. We must all embrace productivity. We must produce whatever we desire to consume,” he added.
Congratulating the graduating students, Aregbesola urged them to get prepared for the challenges ahead and life after university which he described as “challenging.”
“You must all prepare, the challenges ahead especially at this period of over saturated tendencies of labour market. You need grim determination to succeed. You must be rational and critical in the application of the knowledge you have acquired,” he added.