The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has commenced the training of 364 young farmers as part of the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) project in Rivers State. The initiative aims to equip young agripreneurs with the skills and knowledge required to build sustainable agricultural enterprises.
Speaking at the orientation training for 350 trainees and 14 incubators in Port Harcourt, NDDC Director of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr. Winifred Madume, encouraged beneficiaries to embrace the opportunity as future agribusiness entrepreneurs. She revealed that the Federal Government is jointly funding the LIFE-ND project through a loan from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), alongside additional support from the NDDC and counterpart funds from participating state governments.
“The nine participating states are Abia, Bayelsa, Cross River, Edo, Delta, Ondo (funded with IFAD), and Akwa Ibom, Imo, and Rivers states (funded by NDDC),” Madume stated.
She further emphasized that the main objective of LIFE-ND is to foster income generation, food security, and job creation for rural youth and women through sustainable agribusiness development in the Niger Delta region.
“This project aims to create 38,250 agripreneurs using an incubation model. This model pairs trainees with experienced agribusiness entrepreneurs who will mentor them until they acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to establish and run their own successful enterprises,” she added.
National Project Coordinator, LIFE-ND, Abiodun Sanni, highlighted the collective commitment of IFAD, NDDC, and state governments to transforming the agricultural sector. He stressed the importance of equipping youth, women-headed households, and persons with disabilities with the essential skills, knowledge, and resources to thrive in agriculture.
“Fostering youth inclusion in agriculture is crucial for sustainable development, job creation, and food security in Nigeria,” Sanni stated. “Through this training, we aim 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.”
He further explained that the LIFE-ND project is not just about providing resources but empowering youth to take ownership of their future, foster community development, and create lasting impacts in their respective regions.
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Rivers State Project Coordinator, Mr. Loveday Itatat, congratulated the 364 selected beneficiaries, who emerged from a competitive pool of 30 incubators and 1,568 applicants. He noted that a comprehensive sensitization exercise on the LIFE-ND project had been conducted late last year across 20 communities in five Local Government Areas in Rivers State.
“The project aims to transform the rural economy, ensuring prosperity and equitable benefits for the local population,” Itatat remarked. “It seeks to enhance income, food security, and job creation for over 38,250 poor rural youth and women in the Niger Delta region through a sustainable agricultural incubation model.”
With this initiative, the NDDC reaffirms its commitment to fostering economic growth, ensuring food security, and empowering young entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector.
