Tinubu’s Food Security, Barau’s Replication Effort in North West

By Abba Anwar

Only political leaders with the nation at heart can replicate what the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, CON, is doing in aiding our country attains appreciative food security, with workable and honest agricultural programme aiming at young graduates across many families.

His programme is designed to be implemented with the collaboration of Bank of Agriculture (BoA). As Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) had been signed as at 20th February, with the then Managing Director of the Bank, Alwan Ali Hassan.

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While aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for Food Security, the Deputy Senate President initiated a workable solution tagged Barau Initiative for Agricultural Revolution in North West.

This clearly indicates how attached is the Senator Jibrin to President Tinubu’s development policies across the nation. With this in mind one can attest to the fact that, the Deputy Senate President becomes an amplifier of the federal government’s youth inclusion for national economy. Among many other engagements.

Initially, 3 young potential graduate farmers would be drawn from each of the 186 local government areas of the 7 states of North West, viz; Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Jigawa, Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states, under the programme.

But in a recent meeting between the new Managing Director of the Bank, Mr Ayo Sotinrin, the DSP and his Special Adviser on Policy and Monitoring, Prof. Bashir Muhammad Fagge, the number of beneficiaries was scaled up to double the initial 558. Which becomes 1,116 now.

While many young graduates showed up, for the programme, above expectation, Senator Jibrin acknowledged the capacity and appreciative intuition of Prof Fagge, in making practical moves to help Nigeria attain food security space, in the national scheme of things.

In his effort to work out effective and immediate modalities, the DSP, discloses recently, that, he received the new MD, Bank of Agriculture, Mr Sotinrin, when he further reveals that, “During our meeting with the new MD, we extensively discussed the programme which I designed to complement the Federal Government’s policies on food security and food sufficiency in the country.”

Adding that, “The discussion was fruitful, and we are at the final stage of releasing the list of beneficiaries selected from Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto, and Zamfara states.”

The good part of his recent disclosure about the programme, is when he revealed that, the list of successful applicants, that is, would – be beneficiaries, is about to be released, soonest. This comes at the right time when rainy season arrives. This speaks a lot in the true commitment and the seriousness of the Initiative.

The Initiative was principally launched as part of his efforts to contribute to food security in the country, create employment, stimulate the national economy, and encourage youth to engage in farming activities for self – sufficiency.

As more youth are engaged for national development, Barau’s commitment towards drastic reduction of massive unemployment plaguing our restive youth, coupled with the need for large scale economic empowerment, are counted as some of the major concerns for his unwavering efforts across multitudes of constituents.

Not only that, other result-oriented initiatives conceived, labored, nurtured and brought to fruition, by Senator Jibrin, are reasons for identifying him as one of the most productive and progressive legislators in the country.

His unflinching support for many people – oriented policies and programmes of Tinubu administration, places him to be one of the closest legislators to the heart of the federal government. And Presidency, if you wish. It is just as practical as being normal. People of like-minds are closer to each other than people with different mindsets.

Lest I forget, I cannot drop my pen without recognizing the former Provost of Federal College of Education, Bichi, a Professor of Agriculture, who chairs the Implementation Committee of this unique project, Prof Fagge, for the sound and healthy procedures followed in the process during the screening of potential benefitiaries of this all-important project.

Chairing the Committee alone, shows how Senator Jibrin believes in his (Prof’s) capacity to effectively handle the project. The about to be successful take – off of the project means a lot in that respect. Adieu Prof Fagge. Under the able political leadership of Distinguished Senator Jibrin.

Anwar writes from Kano and can be reached at [email protected]
27th May, 2025