The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) have added Imo State to the states under the FG/IFAD/NDDC LIFE ND scheme, expected to revolutionise agriculture in the affected states and beyond.
The state joins the rest of the Niger Delta states to kick off the training of 4,250 agriculture entrepreneurs in four key areas: rice, cassava, poultry, and fishery.
The inclusion of Imo State was made possible as the NDDC began the release of its $30 million counterpart fund for the programme.
IFAD contributed $60 million as a loan for the Federal Government of Nigeria, while the NDDC and Imo State government contributed their parts.
The 4,250 beneficiaries are said to be part of the 12,750 youths, women, and the vulnerable from the three states of Imo, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom that have been brought on by the gradual release of the $30 million partnership fund by the NDDC to join the six earlier states of Cross River, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Abia, and Ondo, who together make up 38,250 beneficiaries of the new agribusiness revolution in the Niger Delta.
The orientation of the three states began with Rivers State in Port Harcourt and has rolled to Imo State.
In her welcome address at the Owerri event, Mrs Victoria Igboanugo, the Imo State Project Coordinator of the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise in the Niger Delta (LIFE ND) project, appreciated Governor Hope Uzodinma, who she said was the first governor to release the state’s counterpart fund to fire up the desire for the project.
She said the fund was what sustained the project in the state before the NDDC fund came in.
Igboanugo said: “The financial commitment of the NDDC towards the end of last year cannot be forgotten in a hurry, for they (NDDC) are our backbone and we appreciate them so much. But just like Oliver Twist, we want some more, and we are hopeful that they (NDDC) are ever-willing to do their best, as we so much believe in their ability to deliver.”
She commended the National Project Coordinator, Dr Abiodun Sanni, for all their support and encouragement.
Igboanugo urged the incubators and incubates to be ready for the beginning of a life-changing opportunity for collaboration and wealth creation through agriculture.
She stated: “Also, the fact that the Imo State Governor was the first governor to pay the state counterpart fund among the NDDC states is clear that the state accepts the project with full enthusiasm.”
The Imo State Representative in the NDDC, Dr Kyrian Uchegbu, in his remarks, said the state is dear to the Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, who he said warned against misuse of the fund released to the state for the project.
He explained that the project development objective is to enhance income, job creation, and food security for rural youth and women through agribusinesses and enterprise development in a sustainable manner for the Niger Delta region.
In her intervention, the NDDC Director of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr Winifred Madume, advised all the 12,250 new entrants from the three new states to realise that the success of the programme rests on them.
She said: “You may have heard success stories from beneficiaries in neighbouring Niger Delta states, where this project has brought about transformative change. Our staff remain closely engaged with beneficiaries to monitor their progress, offering guidance and addressing challenges along the way. Your success here is not only a personal achievement but a testament to your commitment and potential as future agribusiness entrepreneurs within your communities.”
In his opening remarks for the three states, the National Project Coordinator, Dr Abiodun Sanni, said through this training, the programme aimed to build the capacity of young agripreneurs, enabling them to actively participate in the agricultural value chain, drive innovation, and contribute to the economic growth of rural communities.
“The LIFE-ND project is more than just providing resources; it is about empowering our youth to take ownership of their future, foster community development, and create lasting impact in their respective regions,” he stated.
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