Governor Alex Otti has called for adopting the economic model of late Michael Okpara, the First Republic agric minister to promote development and create enough employment opportunities for the jobless youths.

Mr Otti made the call on Thursday at the 2024 Michael Okpara Leadership Lecture and Award held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja. 

The governor, the chief host at the event, said, “The module of late Okpara led to the agricultural revolution in the Eastern region with the establishment of palm oil settlements, rubber plantations, shoe industry aside other establishments.

“Nigeria’s over-reliance on oil has plunged it deeper into food insecurity with little or no industry to pride with.”

Mr Ottih urged the federal and state governments to engage in the economic revolution through massive agriculture and industrialisation, which would contribute to foreign exchange earnings. 

Also speaking, former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim described Mr Okpara as a pragmatic and astute leader whose strategic thinking and action created a future for the people of Eastern Nigeria. 

He said Mr  Okpara’s human capital development and agricultural and industrial revolution spoke volumes and made the World Bank recognise the South-East as one of the growing economies of the world. 

(NAN)