By Egufe Yafugborhi

UYO – THE monitoring and evaluation team of the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises Project in the Niger Delta, LIFE-ND, has expressed satisfaction at the progress of implementation for Akwa Ibom state beneficiaries.

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Federal Government (FG) of Nigeria conceived LIFE-ND in 2019 to stimulate prosperity in the Niger Delta by establishing a target 38,250 poor rural youths and women, including the physically challenged in sustainable enterprise development to boost income, ensure food security and job creation across the agribusiness value chain.

With counterpart funding from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) catering for beneficiaries from Akwa Ibom, Imo and Rivers states of the region, the implementation team says the feedback from Akwa Ibom is encouraging from ongoing monitoring and evaluation.

For Akwa Ibom, the entrepreneurial development interests involve grooming a target 4,250 incumbatees (Trainees) for opportunities across the value chain on Cassava, Oil Palm, Poultry and Aquaculture production, processing and marketing.

The monitoring team which has landed the state earlier in the week found the incubators (Trainers) and incubatees happy, expressing satisfaction with the empowerment model they trust to drive agricultural revolution in the state.

At the inspection visit by the team of the NDDC and Life-ND officials to select farms in Essien Udim Local Government Area yesterday, Incubator and General Manager, Eteyit Farms, Bassey Eteyit, testified how his disposition to the programme shifted from doubt, apathy to commitment to investing his body and soul.

Eteyit, once a councilor, said, “A team came for inspection some time ago and I got to know about this project. I didn’t take them seriously because a lot of people have been coming and at the end nothing comes out. I decided to prevent anybody from using my space to go and make money.

“The team came, told me of the project coming up. After some time I received a call that certain people would be sent to me for training. The time came and a list of 10 incubatees was sent to me. We had orientation and we started.

“As they are now, they have fair knowledge of fish production and can process fish for marketing. It is a project I believe is quite laudable and sustainable.”

Utibe Monday Alexander, an incumbatee speaking through an interpreter said, “This project has helped a lot and I thank the sponsors. I advise them to sustain it. I came here with no knowledge and anything, but I now know how to rear fish and even process for marketing.”

Ekaette Offum said the greatest incentive from the project is the payment of stipends to sustain the trainees. She added that she has acquired enough knowledge and given the opportunity, she is ready to train others.

Some trainees appealed to the sponsors to make payments prompt as many acknowledged the immense value of the scheme with call for its sustenance.

Team leader, Chikezie Munachiso, Assistant Director of Agriculture and Fisheries, NDDC, told incubators and incumbatees, “We are here on routine checks to know what you people are doing, how you are performing and to listen to your challenges and recommendations”, as the monitoring and evaluation continues in the three NDDC funded states.