Food Security: IFAD-LIFE-ND empowers 4,373 beneficiaries, begins new circle in Delta

Food Security: IFAD-LIFE-ND empowers 4,373 beneficiaries, begins new circle in Delta

By Ifeanyi Olannye

Asaba, Oct. 28, 2025(NAN) The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-supported Livelihood Improvement and Family Enterprises in the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) project, has in six years empowered 4,373 rural youths and women in agribusiness in Delta.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Government and the IFAD had secured additional financing of 32 million dollars to expand LIFE-ND project across six states in the Niger Delta region targeting rural youths and women aged 18 to 35 years.

Accordingly, LIFE-ND project haven completed its first phase of six-years, has secured additional financing targeting over 10,000 beneficiaries in the next three years in Delta.

Consequently, the project organised an orientation training for 630 beneficiaries (Incubatees) carefully selected across six Local Government Areas in Delta under the LIFE-ND Additional Financing Project in Asaba on Tuesday.

Speaking during the orientation, Delta Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr Sonny Ekedayen, lauded the project for impacting positively on rural youths and women in the state.

He said: “I am passionate about food and agriculture because even the rich people retire to the farm because it is one of the most profitable and rewarding businesses.

“So, it gives us hope for a collection of young people to begin to sign in for agriculture because that is what Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori of the state is trying to get across.

“LIFE-ND project is special because it has a sustainable financial base; self funding, financing and regenerating. It’s sustainability is guaranteed.”

On his part, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr Val Arenyeka, said the project aligned with the President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” vision and the M.O.R.E Agenda of Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori to empower rural youths and women through agriculture and food production.

Arenyeka, represented by the Acting Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Edmond Orioko, said the project marked a new milestone in our shared commitment to youth empowerment, agribusiness development, and rural transformation.

“Today, we are celebrating 630 young men and women selected across our state to be trained and mentored in cassava production, oil palm processing, poultry production, and fish production along with their respective value chains.

 “These commodities are central to our state’s agricultural development priorities and to the broader goal of food security and economic diversification.

He urged the incubatees to be committed to the training, adding that they were the future of Delta’s agricultural transformation.

“This programme offers you a platform to learn, innovate, and build a livelihood that can uplift not only yourselves but your communities.

“Be diligent, be disciplined, and remain committed to excellence. Remember, agriculture is no longer a way of survival, it is a business, a source of wealth, and a pathway to national prosperity,” he said.

In his keynote address, the National Project Coordinator, LIFE-ND, Dr Abiodun Sanni, represented by Miss Empress Ekwelie, National Financial Inclusion Specialist of the Project, said the project life circle which began in 2019 ended in March 2025.

According to him, LIFE-ND haven secured additional financing would run a three year circle from April 2025 to 2028.

“The targeted beneficiaries are persons between the age bracket of 18 to 35 years; women headed household with first child not more 15 years and beneficiary must have been practicing agriculture in the commodity area of their choice for the programme.”

Abiodun said the focus was to train beneficiaries(Incubatees) to become incubators – agripreneurs, adding that as beneficiaries, they have four financial entitlements; monthly stipends, seed capital, working capital at graduation and payment for service rendered to the incubators.

He however, said that when the beneficiaries become successful in their businesses, they have to pay back the soft loan “working capital” over a period of time, adding that it was secured as a revolving loan.

In her opening remarks, Mrs Stella Manureh of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), said that the commission as a major partner in LIFE-ND project, would continue to support projects targeted at empowering youths and women in the region.

“The LIFE-ND project focuses on improving the rural livelihood through promoting Agriculture and it’s value chain. It presents a remarkable opportunity for the beneficiaries to unlock their potentials and drive lasting change in the communities.

“So, the beneficiaries must make best use of this opportunity to achieve prosperity through agriculture and it’s value chain, Manureh said.

Earlier in a welcome address, the LIFE-ND State Project Coordinator, Mr Collins Ashoro, said that the purpose of the orientation was to acquaint the Incubatees with the workings of the LIFE-ND Project, its objectives, expectations, and implementation processes.

He said that the orientation was scheduled to hold in two hubs; Asaba and Ughelli. Beneficiaries from Ndokwa West, Ika South and Ethiope East LGAs attended the orientation in Asaba, while those from Bomadi, Ughelli and Okpe LGAs will be trained at Ughelli hub.

He said: ” Today’s event represents another major step in our collective effort to empower rural youths and women through agribusiness development, job creation, and sustainable livelihoods.

“Under this phase of the LIFE-ND Additional Financing Project, a total of 630 incubatees have been carefully selected across six Local Government Areas of our state.

“The first phase of the LIFE-ND Project has ended and it has successfully empowered 4,373 youths and women across 10 LGAs and 100 communities it was designated to cover in Delta state along theses commodities and it’s value chain; Casava, poultry, oil palm and fisheries.

“The project’s goal is to enhance the income, employment, and food security of rural youths and women through incubation and mentorship in selected agricultural commodities.

“This initiative emphasizes learning by doing, where you will undergo hands-on training under the guidance of experienced incubators who will mentor you on production, processing, marketing, and business management,” Ashoro said.

He said that with the additional financing that beneficiaries should take advantage of the rare and valuable opportunity to become change makers in their communities.

Ashoro thanked the Project partners; Federal Government, NDDC, IFAD and the implementing agencies the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the Delta state Government for their support.

Some of the beneficiaries who spoke in an interview assured that they would take the training seriously to ensure better and improved livelihood through agriculture in their communities.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng).