The Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has appealed to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to extend the benefits of the FGN/NDDC/IFAD Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises – Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) project to all 27 local government areas of the state to boost food production and improve rural livelihoods.

Speaking at the opening of a three-day orientation training for the third batch of incubatees and incubators in Owerri, the state capital, the governor,  represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Chief Cosmas Maduba, said the expansion of the project would help empower more rural dwellers to become self-sufficient in food production.

He described the LIFE-ND project as one of the most impactful agricultural initiatives in the Niger Delta, commending its focus on engaging young people in rural areas as a means of curbing crime and promoting agribusiness.

“Since I assumed office, the LIFE-ND project has been the most successful and prosperous in reaching the grassroots,” Maduba said. 

“The governor promptly approved the counterpart funding, making him the first in the Niger Delta region to do so. Our goal is to ensure citizens are satisfied, and this initiative contributes significantly to food availability and quality.”

Maduba encouraged participants to take the training seriously, emphasising that their commitment would determine the project’s success in improving food production and reducing dependency.

In his remarks, the NDDC State Representative, Dr Kerian Uchegbu, thanked Governor Uzodimma for his support of the programme and promised to convey the state’s request for expansion to the Commission, noting that it would benefit the people of Imo State as a whole.

Uchegbu highlighted the NDDC’s broader contributions to improving the welfare of Niger Delta residents through scholarships, youth empowerment initiatives, and efforts aimed at tackling insecurity.

The State Project Coordinator of LIFE-ND, Mrs Victoria Igboanugo, also welcomed participants to the training, describing it as the beginning of their journey into agribusiness. 

She explained that the orientation would expose participants to vital areas, including environmental and climate awareness, nutrition, record-keeping, gender inclusion, and the use of technology in agriculture.

She added that the LIFE-ND project adopts the traditional Igbo apprenticeship model, pairing incubators and incubatees from the same communities for effective mentorship and knowledge transfer.

Source: This Day
Image Credit: Vanguard