As the two-day orientation for the first batch of Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) incubatees kicks off under its Additional Financing Project in Delta State, the State Project Coordinator, Mr. Collins Ashoro, urged participants to prepare themselves to become positive change agents in their communities after completing their training.
Speaking during the orientation sessions held in Asaba and Ughelli, Mr. Ashoro, said the programme represents a collective effort by the LIFE-ND Project to empower rural youths and women through agribusiness development, job creation, and sustainable livelihoods.
He explained that the first phase of the Additional Financing Project will include 630 incubatees carefully selected from six local government areas of the state. These young and energetic participants will be trained across four major agribusiness sectors, cassava production, oil palm processing, poultry farming, and fish production along with their respective value chains.
According to Mr. Ashoro, each of these commodities plays a vital role in ensuring food security, boosting income, and driving industrial growth in Delta State.
He therefore encouraged the incubatees not just to aim at becoming successful farmers or processors, but to evolve into agripreneurs innovative business-minded individuals who can drive rural enterprise and economic transformation in their communities.
Mr. Ashoro explained that the LIFE-ND Project is jointly funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and the Delta State Government. He noted that the project’s main objective is to boost the income, employment opportunities, and food security of rural youths and women through a structured system of incubation and mentorship in key agricultural value chains.
Declaring the orientation open, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Barr. Val Arenyika represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Orioko Edmond told the incubatees that they represent the future of Delta State’s agricultural transformation. He added that the LIFE-ND Project aligns perfectly with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s MORE Agenda for sustainable development.
A major highlight of the event was a hands-on session where the incubatees were introduced to key areas such as record keeping, business plan development, infrastructure and land requirements, as well as other practical aspects of agriculture.
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