MANAGING Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Samuel Ogbuku, has charged implementers to be committed to prudent management of dedicated funds to ensure that set goals are satisfactorily met on the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise Niger Delta (LIFE-ND).

Ogbuku gave the charge as the NDDC $30Million LIFE-ND intervention train moved into Owerri to give orientation training to 364 beneficiaries (350 incubatees and 14 incubators), the first batch of a target 4250 persons to gain the agribusiness empowerment for Imo State.

The engagement in Imo marks the second state of the region NDDC has kick started the intervention, having had the first training for Rivers state with Akwa Ibom next in line to cover the three states the commission is funding to reach target 12750 beneficiaries on the scheme.

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 aiming to establish a total 38,250 poor rural youths, women, including he physically challenged in sustainable incubation model enterprise development to boost income, ensure food security and job creation across the agribusiness value chain.

Declaring the NDDC boss’s charge at the Owerri orientation training, Imo State Representative on the board of the Commission, Kyrian Uchegbu, said Ogbuku, “Strongly warns that the fund he allocated to the state should be used judiciously for betterment of the women and the youths.”

Uchegbu noted, “This event marks a crucial step in our collective journey toward empowering agribusiness and fostering sustainable livelihood in the Niger Delta. Imo State is focusing on Rice, Cassava, Poultry, and Fishery.

“The project objective is to enhance income, job creation and food security for the rural youth and women through agribusinesses and enterprise development in sustainable manner for the Niger Delta region.”

Imo State Project Coordinator for LIFE-ND, Mrs. Victoria Igboanugo, recognised Imo’s Governor Hope Uzodimma, “For demonstrating political will towards this project, being the first governor among the NDDC States to pay the State counterpart fund in the year 2020, and this has been what kept the project alive till date.

“To my incubators and incubatees, today marks the beginning of a life changing opportunity for collaboration and wealth creation through Agriculture. It is hoped this project will produce numerous incubators annually and through this sustainable food security will be maintained in Imo State.”

NDDC Director Of Agriculture And Fisheries, Dr Winifred Madume, told those engaged, “You may have heard success stories from beneficiaries in neighbouring Niger Delta states where this project has brought about transformative change.

“Your success here is not only a personal achievement but a testament to your commitment and potential as future agribusiness entrepreneurs within your communities.”

National Project Coordinator, Abiodun Sanni, said through this empowerment, the aims is to build capacity of young agripreneurs, to actively participate in developing enterprises across the agriculture value chain, drive innovation, and contribute to economic growth of rural communities in the region.

“The LIFE-ND project is more than just providing resources. It is about empowering our youth to take ownership of their future, foster community development, and create lasting impact in their respective regions”, Sanni emphasised.

Some of the engaged incubators and incubatees expressed commitment to grabbing the opportunity to attain financial freedom as they promised to give the project their best efforts.