Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima has said that the worst is over as Nigeria crosses the rubicon, with the economy of the country now picking up.

The Vice President stated this while distributing tractors, rice seedlings, food items, amongst other items to persons affected by floods, at the Government House on Friday.

Senator Shettima said the country is now crossed the rubicon and is on the path of sustainable growth. 

"Luckily, we have crossed the Rubicon and we are on the path to sustainable growth. I believe the worst is over. The economy is picking up and by the grace of God, we are going to record bumper harvest in the upcoming farming season," he stated.

While appreciating Governor Sule for demonstrating exemplary leadership which created the environment for peaceful coexistence, as well as made it possible for Nasarawa State to record monumental development in the area of agriculture, he  further assured of the continued support of the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in order for the country to overcome its economic challenges. 

The Vice President was particularly excited that Governor Sule was able to bring about relative peace in Nasarawa State that is bringing much needed development to the state.

"I want to use this forum to appreciate the Governor of Nasarawa State for his exemplary leadership. There can never be development without peace and there can never be peace without development. 

"Nasarawa represents the mosaic that Nigeria is, different ethnic groups, different religions but leaving peacefully, harmoniously because of the quality of leadership he has provided.  I want all of us to continue thanking God for granting us the peace and social harmony in Nasarawa State, for the monumental accomplishment in agriculture. Nasarawa is the agricultural power house of the nation. Beyond being the Home of Solid Minerals, Nasarawa is in a position to feed the whole nation," he said.

Senator Shettima equally appreciated the bottom-up approach adopted by the Nasarawa State Governor, empowering traditional rulers and local government areas with tractors and seedlings to encourage them to take to agriculture. 

"Our traditional rulers are the closest to the people and most of them are farmers. The local governments are the institutions that hold our people. Empowering the local governments with tractors and other agricultural input is absolutely essential for us make any progress in agriculture," he said.

He commended Governor Sule for imbibing modern agricultural practices which would further improve yield. 

At combined graduation ceremony of 1, 128 trainees of the Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim Vocational and Technology Institute, drawn from across the country, the Vice President commended Governor Sule for his foresight to turn the state into a hub of jobs and opportunities. 

He pointed out that the initiative behind the setting up of the institute aligns with global trends towards skills acquisition. 

Senator Shettima also performed the groundbreaking of the World Bank funded headquarters of the Nasarawa Investment Development Agency (NASIDA), as well as the Multi Outdoor Court, a one-stop shop investment centre, in line with the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER).

On his part, Governor Abdullahi Sule commended the Federal Government for coming to the rescue of states recently affected by floods, adding that his administration has utilized the three billion naira received as support to address the causes of the floods, as well as provide succor to persons displaced as a result of the floods. 

Governor Sule said that following the successes recorded by his administration after it keyed into the renewed hope agenda of the Federal Government in the area of agriculture by earmakijg 10,000 hectares of land for cultivation, out of which 2000 hectares was cultivated for rice, he said his administration is distributing tractors and seedlings to local government areas and traditional rulers to encourage farming activities. 

Speaking st the graduation ceremony of the trainees of the Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim Vocational and Technology Institute, the Governor unfolded the plan of his administration towards addressing the Almajiri syndrome. 

He announced that the Nasarawa State First Lady, Hajiya Silifat Abdullahi Sule, as well as the Nasarawa State Ministry of Women Affairs, have selected a number of Almajiris who are beneficiaries of the training.

"The First Lady also, as well as the Ministry of Women Affairs started thinking about the Almajiris.  Among the students here who are graduating today, we have Almajiris who we picked from the streets.  We don't know their states. We don't know their parents. But as far as we are concerned, we have trained them and given them skills and we are going to give them starterpacks so that they can no longer be Almajiris," he said.

According to him, his administration is building two institutions in Wamba and Nasarawa after which all the Almajiris in the state would be moved to these institutions. 

"Once these two institutions are ready, our idea is to ensure that we move these Almajiris into these places and then we close our gate and say no more Almajiris coming into Nasarawa State," he stated.

In a goodwill message during the graduation of the trainees, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, who personally sponsored 20 of the trainees, lauded Governor Sule for his initiative aimed at reducing poverty and hunger in the country.

Bishop Kuka was particularly happy because the idea behind the institute would address the alarming scourge of poverty, destitution and hunger particularly in the North.

"If you look at the new report from the National Bureau of Statistics, the figures are quite staggering. Figures relating to multidimensional poverty in Nigeria. The average in Northern Nigeria is 70 percent.  In other parts of Nigeria like Ondo State it is 27 percent. In Lagos, it's 34 percent.  

"I think on behalf of most of us in Northern Nigeria, Sokoto where I come from, we are registering 90 percent, any effort that is being made to begin to reduce the scourge of poverty, hunger and destitution in Nigeria is commendable. People will talk about how do you finish eating an elephant. People will tell you it's impossible but they will tell you, finish eating the elephant by taking the first bite. This is really a major bite in trying to consume the elephant of poverty and hunger in Nigeria," he said.

The Bishop also hailed the training as being capable of uniting Nigerians, especially with the trainees coming from across the country.