By Abdullahi Lukman
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has launched a training program for 364 young farmers aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity in the region.
The initiative is part of the broader Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) program.
Dr. Winifred Madume, NDDC’s Director of Agriculture and Fisheries, announced the commencement of the training on Thursday, February 6, 2025, in Port Harcourt.
She explained that the LIFE-ND program, funded by the Federal Government through a loan from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), with additional funding from the NDDC and state governments, seeks to empower farmers with the skills to become agribusiness entrepreneurs.
Madume highlighted that the training involves 350 trainees (incubatees) and 14 groups (incubators) from all nine states of the Niger Delta—Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross Rivers, Edo, Delta, Imo, Ondo, and Rivers.
She said that NDDC is financing the LIFE-ND activities in Akwa Ibom, Imo, and Rivers, while Ondo is supported by IFAD.
The program aims to foster income generation, food security, and job creation through sustainable agribusiness development.
It seeks to create 38,250 agricultural entrepreneurs using an incubation model, where young farmers are paired with experienced agribusiness mentors to develop the necessary skills for successful ventures.
Mr. Abiodun Sanni, National Project Coordinator of LIFE-ND, emphasized that the program is a joint effort of IFAD, NDDC, and the nine Niger Delta state governments to achieve food sufficiency in the region.
He stressed the importance of training young people, women, and persons with disabilities to ensure their active participation in agriculture, which will contribute to rural economic growth, job creation, and food security.
In Rivers, the LIFE-ND Project Coordinator, Loveday Itatat, revealed that the 364 participants were selected from 30 incubator groups, chosen from a pool of 1,568 applicants.
Prior to the training, awareness campaigns were held in 20 communities across five local government areas in Rivers State in 2024.
