Federal Government through Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in partnership with International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has trained and empowered youths and women to start off their agribusinesses in Ondo state.
Ondo State deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa at the program disclosed that Governor Akeredolu has approved the payment of the counterpart fund for the project, explaining that youth between the age of 18 and 35 years as well as women as old as 65 to 70 years were the target beneficiaries of the project.
The Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises Project for the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) is a project of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) designed in collaboration with International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), implemented in the nine Niger Delta States of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Rivers and Ondo states.
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LIFE-ND promotes community-based on-farm and off-farm business activities along key agricultural value chain as a mechanism for job and wealth creation amongst unemployed and underemployed youths and women-headed households in Niger Delta States.
The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Mr Olayato Aribo, appreciated the Federal Government of Nigeria for initiating the project and IFAD for making funds available for the laudable scheme.
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He explained that the project tagged: ‘LIFE-ND’ was keyed into by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu-led administration to see to the empowerment of youths and women in the state to reduce unemployment and poverty in the state.
The commissioner highlighted that 10 beneficiaries were selected from 10 local government areas of the state, making a total of 100 candidates from various communities, while urging the beneficiaries to use the fund judiciously and practice what they were taught in the training.
