….hails C’River’s agricultural transformation

By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA- THE Country Director, International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD, Ms. Dede Ahoefa Ekoue, has commissioned the IFAD-assisted open market at Urua-Ndung community in Akwa Ikot Effanga Clan, Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State.

Ekoue commissioned the project as part of activities during her one-day working visit to Cross River State, and the community members came out in large numbers to warmly welcome the delegation, received high praise from Ms. Ekoue for their grassroots-driven ideas aimed at livelihood enhancement.

She also lauded the Cross River State Office of the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise for the Niger Delta, LIFE-ND, for its exemplary leadership and project implementation.

She said: “This community has shown that development thrives when people take ownership. The open market initiative is a reflection of the LIFE-ND’s vision of empowering communities to lead their transformation.”

The newly commissioned open market, comprising 14-unit stalls, a solar powered borehole, tank stands, toilet and four 2,000-litre GeePee tanks, was officially handed over to the Akpabuyo Local Government Council, represented by the Secretary, Ms. Juliet Bassey. She assured that the Council would partner with the community to maintain and expand the facility.

Traditional leaders, Chief Offiong Nyong and Chief Bassey Okon, expressed gratitude on behalf of the clan, noting that the new market, which significantly reduces a 10km commute to the nearest trading centre, would alleviate the burden of transportation and other logistical challenges.

Meanwhile, she had earlier participated in the groundbreaking ceremony of the Special Agro-Processing Zone, SAPZ, at Adiabo in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, and commended the collaborative synergy between the Federal Government, the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and the Cross River State Government, stressing its importance to the success of the agro-processing hub.

Speaking to journalists, she (Ekoue) remarked, “The Cross River State Office has made a very laudable impression. They have surpassed the expectations and targets for the project, touching on all value chain commodities. This commendable performance has positioned the state as a beneficiary of additional funding and the second phase of the project.”

A highpoint of her visit was the inspection of the 20-million-capacity fish hatchery at the state office, where she expressed satisfaction with the level of strategic engagement, particularly with incubatees and students from the University of Calabar and the University of Cross River State repectively, while she noted that the commitment of the team was vital to ensuring the sustainability of the LIFE-ND project.

While paying a courtesy call on the Cross River State Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Ebokpo, Ms. Ekoue thanked the state for its unwavering support, particularly in counter-funding and logistics, which are crucial for meeting project milestones.

“LIFE-ND is positioning youth and women in agribusinesses as a game-changer for agrifood system transformation”, she noted.

In response, Hon. Ebokpo Jr and the Commissioner for the Ministry of International Donor Cooperation Mr. Hippolatus Lukpata represented by the Permanent Secretary, Anthony Effiom, commended the IFAD team for their consistent support, and he affirmed the state’s commitment to the project success.

The Commissioner of Agriculture expressed his deep gratitude to IFAD for its commitment and practical approach to support youth and women in agribusinesses and reiterate that Cross River is eagerly awaiting the phase 2 of LIFE-ND to support its implementation and to create synergies with other strategic programs in the state.

“The Governor has adopted the hatchery as a state-owned project and tasked the Commissioner for Livestock and Aquaculture, Ntufam Emmanuel Anom, with its delivery. We’ve also procured 108 mini-tractors and will work closely with the LIFE-ND state office and local councils”, he said.

The Commissioner also commennded the National Project Coordinator, Dr. Sanni Abiodun, and the State Project Coordinator, Mr. Innocent Ogbin, for their leadership.

Incubatees Josephine Dominic and Bassey Asuquo also shared striking testimonies of transformation of their livelihood and impact on their families. “This project has not only taught us poultry and aquaculture skills but has transformed our lives. We now own land, motorbikes, and even vehicles—this is a life-changing experience,” they said.