By Wuraola Oyedokun
The Pioneer Chairman of Lagelu and District Society of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN),Chief (Mrs) Omokemi Oladipo, has called on the government to invest more in agriculture,and human capital development as well as tackle insecurity in order to reduce importation of food and other foreign goods.
According to the latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics {NBS], Nigeria imported food and beverages valued at N1.67 trillion between January and March 2025. The ICAN chief decried the staggering bill, noting that it was a drain on the nation’s resources with adverse effects on the balance of trade. She identified low investment in agriculture, low motivation, poor incentives, insecurity of farmlands and others as factors responsible for low agricultural productivity in the country.
The chairman stated this in a chat with journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
To reduce the huge import bill, the financial expert urged the governments to prioritise agriculture, provide incentives, develop the capacity of the youth to embrace farming and curb insecurity, especially the herder-farmers perennial crises.
She said: ‘’The government is doing what it is expected to do. However, in order to reset the economy, the government must pump more money into agriculture, invest more in human capital development and tackle insecurity to discourage importation of food and other goods in order to reduce the mounting import bills’’.
The Fellow Chartered Accountant [FCA] also urged the managers of the Nigerian economy to embrace advice offered by members of the accounting profession, saying ICAN would continue to uphold professional standards in accounting practices.
Oladipo thanked her team for their unwavering support and unalloyed loyalty since she took over the mantle of leadership of the District.
While reeling out some of her achievements, the ICAN boss pledged to do more in order to take the District to an enviable height.
