The Buhari Youth Organisation (BYO) has urged all tiers of government to enforce policies on healthier and sustainable food systems in the country in commemoration of the 2016 International Youths Day.
The General Secretary, Lagos State Chapter of the group, Mr Adekunle Aderibigbe, made the plea in a statement issued by the group and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
NAN reports that the 2016 International Youths Day, celebrated on Friday, was entitled: “The Road to 2030: Eradicating Poverty and Achieving Sustainable Consumption and Production’’.
“Having led the various sustainability goals, we are advocating for the government to enforce policies to aid healthier and sustainable food systems.
“We expect to see more operative policies that enforce greener economy with a sustainable cyclical movement of produce that is eco-friendly,’’ he said.
According to him, the organisation (BYO) is working in line with the United Nations goals by playing the leading role to ensure the above goals are attained.
“This, we are doing by emphasising the need to first consider the current state of affairs, while depicting the expected big picture of where we should be.
“With these global goals being focused on, we decided to engage the youths in Agriculture in order to make foods, water and energy to be more accessible and affordable to all.
“The purpose is to ensure a sustainable means of production while deploring eco-friendly approaches,’’ he said.
Aderibigbe said that the BYO was committed to bridging the knowledge gap between youths in the rural and urban areas to increase sustainable food production.
He said that the organisation was enhancing the movement of funds from the urban to the rural communities, where the main production is attainable through cooperative society.
“We have been able to set up a cooperative society that has attracted investments being pooled in smaller units from a good number of youths in the urban areas, while engaging those in the rural areas in production processes.
“We are also reaching out to institutions to partner with us to expand this project and campaigns taken to various parts of the country.
“Several efforts have been made to educate the youths on sustainable consumption patterns that will reduce the waste and or make the wastes recycled or re-usable products,’’ he said.
The organisation frowned at importation of food items into the country when the country has vast arable land and other resources to grow them locally and create prosperity for the teeming youths.
According to Aderibigbe, most imported foods always expired before getting to consumers.
He stressed the need for more investments in agriculture for home-grown hygienic foods for healthier society.
Aderibigbe said that in order to emphasise the need for controlled consumption and inclusive waste management, the Lagos Chapter of BYO had introduced its Monthly Community Service Initiative (MCSI).
He said that the initiative was aimed at identifying areas that could cause major disasters like floods for clearing and cleaning as well as sensitising the communities about control measures.
The group, however, urged the youth to always bear in mind the need to create a conducive environment for the generations to come.
NAN reports that BYO is an ideological group. (NAN)