Over 14,000 youth incubatees benefited from the Federal Government, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and International Funds for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Life-ND project as it ends its mid-term review in Rivers State last May
By Jude Nzennaya, Port Harcourt
The Federal Government/Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)/International Funds for Agricultural Development (IFAD) livelihood agricultural improvement family project has ended its mid-term review programme in Port Harcourt, pointing out that over 14,000 youth incubatees have been captured in the training scheme.
Addressing the gathering Wednesday, May 24, 2023 in Port Harcourt, the IFAD Country Director, Dede Ekoue said she was happy that over 14,000 youths, otherwise referred to as incubatees have been trained in entrepreneurship in the agricultural sector, noting that they have all set up their own businesses in the Niger Delta region, thereby boosting the economy of the rural communities and the nation at large.
She said the Life-ND project that started in 2020 has progressed with 14,000 beneficiaries and hoping to add more 12,000 incubatees before 2025.
Describing the project as a catalyst for rural development, Ekoue said, it is gladdening to note that the Federal Government and States are contributing to the project, thereby making it a community project.
The Country Director said in as much as IFAD needs more financial support to be able to sustain the youths training and NDDC having assured them that their counterpart funds will be paid, IFAD will extend the training to the remaining three Niger Delta States of Imo, Rivers and Akwa Ibom.
She thanked the incubators or trainers for their commitment in training the incubatees, which she said has gone a long way to reducing poverty in the affected communities in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.
In his own remarks, the National Project Coordinator of IFAD, Engr Abiodun Sanni said the mid-term review is worthwhile in that so many youths of the Niger Delta region have been trained in various skills, especially in agriculture. He expressed hope that if NDDC pays its counterpart funds as promised, IFAD will fast-track the life-ND project to cover the entire nine Niger Delta States.
On his part, the Director, Project Coordinating Unit of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Peter Kush Kukwi said before now Government was not happy with what was happening with the youths in the rural communities, noting that a lot of impact has been made with the FG/IFAD Life-ND project.
He said it is very obvious that when community economy is improved, the national economy will automatically improve.
Kush Kukwi tasked the states to always pay their counterpart funds to complement the Federal Government and International Donors support.
He also thanked NDDC for identifying with the IFAD livelihood agricultural improvement project.
Also speaking, a Director Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and Planning, Mr Babatunde Adebayo thanked IFAD for what they are doing in adding value to the lives of the youths.
He promised that the Ministry of Finance will continue to provide funds for the IFAD Life-ND project and thanked the states for their level of participation in IFAD project.
Adding his voice to the subject matter, the Director 2 Agriculture and Fisheries of NDDC, Mr Kelechi Nwelue congratulated IFAD for a job well done. He prayed that IFAD continues with its training and meet its target.
Assuring that NDDC will pay its counterpart funds as promised by the Managing Director of the Commission.
