The Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises, Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) Project is a tripartite program of the Federal government of Nigeria, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Assisted Project.
The LIFE-ND project has commenced the implementation of an Agri-entrepreneurship initiative in Akwa Ibom, Imo and Rivers states.
The National Project Coordinator of LIFE-ND, Engr. (Dr.) Abiodun Sanni, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.
His statement followed a sensitization and inspection tour by project officials.
Engr. (Dr.) Sanni named the three states as part of those funded by the Niger Delta Development Commission.
He emphasized that implementation has begun with community sensitization and the identification of both incubators and incubatees in the participating states.
According to him, the sensitization aims to create awareness within the communities and instill a sense of ownership.
He noted that the exercise involved engaging community members and leaders, as well as identifying potential incubators (trainers) and incubatees (trainees) in the respective Local Government Areas.
He said, “This sensitization creates a background to the next exercise, which is profiling of potential incubators and incubatees who are the key players in the LIFE-ND incubation model.
This model takes it roots from the traditional master-apprenticeship system popularly practiced in the eastern region of Nigeria. The set target is that each state is expected to empower 4,250 beneficiaries and there is a deliberate effort at ensuring gender balance is achieved.’’
Engr. (Dr.) Abiodun Sanni explained that the identified beneficiaries would be profiled and that prospective incubators and incubatees would subsequently be selected.
He said, “In terms of commodity focus, Akwa Ibom State will prioritize cassava, oil palm, poultry, and aquaculture, Imo will focus on cassava, rice, poultry, and aquaculture, while Rivers will target cassava, plantain, poultry, and aquaculture. The overall goal of the LIFE-ND project is to realize a transformed rural economy in the Niger Delta from which the rural population can derive prosperity and equal benefit. The project development objective is to enhance income, food security and job creation for rural youth and women through agri-enterprise development on a sustainable basis in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.”
Source: Vanguard SILVERNEWS Peoplesgazette
