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The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) governorship candidate in Osun State, Dr Rasaq Saliu, has promised to use agriculture as a major tool for creating jobs and reducing unemployment if elected governor.
Saliu made the pledge on Tuesday during the ARISE 2026 Governorship Election Town Hall ahead of the 2026 Osun governorship election.
He described Osun as predominantly an agrarian state and said its agricultural potential must be fully harnessed to create opportunities, particularly for young people.
According to him, the state should encourage more youths to explore different areas of agriculture, including farming, fishing, food production and mechanised agriculture.
“So take interest in agriculture. Take interest in fishing. Take interest in producing walnuts.
“Take interest in mechanised farming. Take interest in producing more food for us. So that the issue of unemployment, unemployment every day can go down,” Saliu said.
The PRP candidate argued that Osun should maximise the resources available to it instead of focusing on what it lacks in terms of industrialisation.
“We are looking at agriculture. We cannot continue to say because we are not as industrialised as some other states, we leave what we have. We should use what we have in Osun state to get what we need,” he said.
Saliu said greater investment in agriculture would not only provide employment but also increase food production and strengthen the state’s economy.
He also criticised the state’s dependence on federal allocation, arguing that Osun’s agricultural base provides an opportunity to develop alternative sources of economic growth.
