Abuja: The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-supported Livelihood Improvement and Family Enterprises in the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) project has begun implementing an agri-entrepreneurship initiative across Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Imo states. Dr Abiodun Sanni, the National Project Coordinator of LIFE-ND, disclosed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Dr Sanni’s statement followed a sensitisation and inspection tour by project officials. He identified the three states as part of those funded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and emphasized that implementation has commenced with community sensitisation and the identification of both incubators and incubatees in the participating states. The sensitisation aims to create awareness within the communities and instil a sense of ownership.
Dr Sanni 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. The sensitisation exercise sets the stage for profiling potential incubators and incubatees, who are key players in the LIFE-ND incubation model. This model is rooted in the traditional master-apprenticeship system commonly practised in the eastern region of Nigeria.
He further explained that each state is expected to empower 4,250 beneficiaries, with a deliberate effort to ensure gender balance. The identified beneficiaries will be profiled and prospective incubators and incubatees selected. In terms of commodity focus, Akwa Ibom 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 transform the rural economy in the Niger Delta, enabling the rural population to derive prosperity and equal benefit. The project development objective is to enhance income, food security, and job creation for rural youth and women through sustainable agri-enterprise development in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.
The LIFE-ND project, a joint initiative of the Federal Government and IFAD, officially began on February 21, 2019. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) serves as the lead implementing agency, while NDDC acts as a partner in delivering the project across nine Niger Delta states. The project targets a total of 38,250 beneficiaries across Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo, and Rivers states.
Dr Sanni clarified that IFAD is funding six of the states: Abia, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, and Ondo, while the remaining three are funded by NDDC. The project includes an initial six-year phase with parallel funding from NDDC, and an additional six years under future IFAD financing. IFAD has released 60 million US dollars for implementation in the six states from 2019 to 2025. NDDC funded states began implementation in 2024 with an initial commitment of 2.5 million dollars in August 2024 and another 2.5 million dollars in January 2025. This funding enables the three states to commence full implementation.
On the ground in Imo State, stakeholders are already experiencing the impact of the project. Mr Mbaeyi Emeka, an incubator and owner of Prince Mbaeyi Emeka Farm in Obollo Autonomous Community, Isiala Mbano Local Government Area, commended the LIFE-ND intervention. Emeka, who transitioned from subsistence cassava farming to commercial farming through the project, encourages youth and women to be dedicated to cassava production.
Similarly, Mrs Ifeoma Njoku, an incubatee under Mbaeyi Farms, described cassava farming as lucrative and encouraged other women to leverage the LIFE-ND project to improve their livelihoods. She praised the project for alleviating struggles among the less privileged. Additionally, Mr Young-man Soseipiri, Assistant Farm Manager at Petros Poultry Farms in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area, highlighted the opportunity provided by the initiative to train incubatees in broiler and layer production.