The Federal Government, in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Ondo State Government, has announced plans to empower 14,800 youths in agricultural production across the state.
The initiative, known as the IFAD/FG Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise – Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) Project, will be implemented in 100 communities across 10 local government areas in Ondo State.
Beneficiaries, referred to as incubatees, will receive training and support in cocoa, cassava, fishery and poultry production.
The Ondo State Project Coordinator, Mr Olawale Ademola, disclosed this during a roundtable meeting with media practitioners held in Akure, the state capital.
According to Ademola, the project has been extended following the successful completion of its first phase, which ended in April 2025.
“The project has had a significant impact on the youths in the state. Because of this, it has been extended for another three years. This is additional financing”.
“It was supposed to start last year, but we could not, so we now have an additional three years,” he said.
He revealed that 4,182 youths were trained and empowered during the first phase of the programme, prompting IFAD and government partners to scale up their reach.
“In the next three years, we are targeting 14,800 youths as beneficiaries: 5,800 as regular incubatees and 9,000 for business development services,” Ademola added.
He listed the local government areas where the programme will be implemented, including Akure North, Ondo East, Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo, Akoko South-West, Owo, Irele, Ilaje, Idanre, Ese-Odo, and Akoko North-West.
Ademola further noted that the LIFE-ND project is being implemented across six Niger Delta states: Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Abia, and Cross River, with strong collaboration between IFAD, the Federal Government and participating state governments.
“In the first phase of the project, 4,182 youths were trained in four major aspects of agriculture: cocoa, fishery, cassava, and poultry production, across 100 communities in 10 local governments”.
“We are enjoying a strong partnership with the government, which is paying its counterpart funds,” he said.
However, he acknowledged that the project faces challenges, including insecurity, inflation, insincerity among some beneficiaries and low literacy levels, noting that measures have been put in place to address these issues.
Speaking on the project’s objectives, the State Agribusiness Promotion Officer, Mr Bodunwa Isaiah, stated that the initiative is designed to drive food sufficiency, youth employment generation and revenue growth in rural communities.
Also speaking, the State Rural Institute Gender and Youth Officer, Mrs Bolanle Akinyede, explained that the incubation model focuses on pairing trainers with trainees and prioritises participants who demonstrate genuine interest in agriculture.
“We make sure that beneficiaries have interest and passion in agriculture because we see agriculture as a business,” she stated.
Source: FMINO
Image Credit: The Guardian News
