26,000 Youths Empowered in Agribusiness, $30m Invested in First Phase Of LIFE-ND Project Says IFAD Country Director

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The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) on Thursday disclosed that it invested over $30m in the first phase of the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises —Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) project with over 26,000 youths as beneficiaries, while 4,380 others are currently being enlisted in the ongoing phase.

Underscoring its commitment to empowering youth in the agribusiness to generate jobs, the Country Director of IFAD, Dede Ekoue, who spoke in Benin City, Edo State, at the 5th Supervision Mission of a tripartite Federal Government, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and IFAD—LIFE-ND Project, insisted that Nigeria cannot achieve its dreamed food sovereignty without harnessing the potentials of its youth in full capacity.

Ekoue, who said LIFE-ND is aimed at empowering youth and women with practical skills in agribusiness in the Niger Delta region, noted that to achieve this, the programme adopted a model where all trainees pass through what is referred to as incubation.

Describing LIFE-ND as “a unique programme to us at IFAD”, the country director stressed that “We are talking about agric food system transformation; it is a key topic on the global platform. And food sovereignty cannot be achieved without fully harnessing the potentials of the youth in agric.

“Youth have the largest population. So, LIFE-ND is aimed at empowering youth with practical skills using a model of business incubation. By the time they go through the incubation process, they come out as business owners. They are able to set up an agribusiness.

“And we have a good story in terms of linking these agribusiness owners to the market. So, income generation and sales are not issues to them.

“Creating jobs for youths is the key to enabling growth; it is the key to peace; it is the key to development; it is the key to business growth.”

In empowerment of women, the country director said: “LIFE-ND also emphasises on women. Women are key to food production; they are key to food transformation; they are key to food sovereignty; they are key to proper nutrition. This is what LIFE-ND is delivering.”

Ekoue, while expressing satisfaction at the 4th supervision of the project, said the supervision, which was carried out by an independent team was to “access progresses, identified the challenges and opportunities for improvement, and to develop some recommendations for further enhancing,” adding that this would give a cue either to continue with the project or discontinue.

On his part, National Coordinator, LIFE-ND, Dr. Abiodun Sanni, said the first phase of the programme, which covered six states – Ondo, Edo, Abia, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta – of the region, had 26,470 beneficiaries including young agro-entrepreneurs, youths, women, and persons with disability along different commodities for value chain.

Sanni, while expressing his commitment to actualising the transformative agenda of the project, which he said aligns with the President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, disclosed that 4,380 beneficiaries are currently being enlisted in this ongoing phase, adding: “We are going to add more beneficiaries as more funds come from our sponsors.”

Representative of the NDDC, Stella Manureh, said the LIFE-ND project “is our shared commitment to improving lives of the Niger Delta people through food security.

“IFAD, your continued investment in agriculture has improved the livelihood of the people. It enforces our collective responsibility for transparency and accountability.”