ECCIMA urges NIPSS to conduct research on agriculture and national development
Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA) has urged members of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) to conduct research on how agriculture can sustain national growth.
The president of the chamber, Rev. Ugochukwu Chime, made the call in Enugu on Thursday, while receiving NIPSS Senior Executive Course 39 participants, who are on a study tour.
The theme of the study is ‘Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) for the Development of Agriculture and Agro-allied Industries in Nigeria.’
Chime said that the choice of Enugu state as a case study was apt and relevant to national development and economy.
“Agriculture remains one of the central focuses of this chamber; we carry out advocacy programmes to ensure the promotion and growth of agro-allied businesses.
“However, paucity of funds has stalled our yearly National Agricultural Symposium and Exhibition, where various players and stakeholders in the agricultural sector meet to network, share values and form linkages in charting ways for the development of the agricultural sector.’’
He president urged the participants to make and forward strong policy recommendations and implementation strategies to the Federal Government on how to develop a synergy between the public and private sectors.
“Members of the organised private sector should be appointed into strategic economic institutions to accelerate national development, as obtainable in other countries where the organised private sector plays pivotal roles in economic development,’’ he added.
The NIPSS Study Group’s Team Leader, Amb. Adamu Abbas, said that the participants were in Enugu on a study tour of the state.
“We are here to proffer proposals on the theme of this years’ study, which is bringing science, technology and innovation to bear on the nation’s agricultural development,’’ he said.
