By Henry Obetta

The Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) project is significantly improving rural livelihoods in Edo State by creating jobs and expanding agribusiness opportunities for youths and women.

The initiative, supported by the Federal Government, the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD, focuses on promoting sustainable agriculture, enhancing food security and reducing unemployment across rural communities.

Edo State Project Coordinator, John Omoruyi, said the programme has recorded notable success since the state joined the initiative on July 1, 2020, following the project’s launch on Feb. 21, 2019.

According to him, 4,387 beneficiaries were supported in the first phase of the programme through training, mentoring and financial assistance across agricultural value chains such as rice, cassava, poultry and fisheries.

Omoruyi said the successes recorded encouraged the state government to scale up the project, with Gov. Monday Okpebholo approving farmland in several local government areas to promote cluster farming.
He added that the state appropriated N1.6 billion in the 2025 budget to expand the programme to eight additional local government areas, noting that more than N500 million had already been disbursed within the first 100 days of the current administration to support 1,797 youths and women.

Omoruyi said the expansion is expected to generate about 2,000 additional jobs when counterpart funding is fully released.

Governor Monday Okpebholo said agriculture remains central to his administration’s economic strategy, stressing that expanding opportunities in farming and agribusiness would improve food security and provide sustainable employment for young people.

Similarly, Edo Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Jerry Uwangue, described LIFE-ND as a key intervention for improving rural livelihoods and strengthening the agricultural sector.

He said the state government was collaborating with development partners on the proposed LIFE-ND Plus initiative to further expand the programme’s impact.

IFAD Country Director, Dede Ekoue, described the project as a transformative platform for empowering youths and women through targeted investments in agriculture.

Ekoue said: “From our field visits, LIFE-ND stands as a testimony of how targeted investments in youths and women can transform rural communities.”

Also, Stella Manureh of the NDDC said the initiative contributes to economic stability in the Niger Delta by reducing poverty and promoting enterprise development.

Beyond skills training and financial support, the project has strengthened rural infrastructure, with more than 28 facilities, including processing centres and farm clusters, constructed across communities in Edo.
Some beneficiaries say the programme has improved their income and living conditions.

Grace Nwaozuzu, a poultry farmer and project incubator, said the support enabled her to expand her business, producing between 250 and 350 day-old chicks per cycle and earning up to N200,000 profit after expenses.

“With the income, my husband and I were able to buy a small car used for distributing our products,” Nwaozuzu said.

Efe Ehanire, a fish processor from Uteh community, said the project introduced a hybrid gas kiln that replaced traditional firewood methods, improving efficiency and income for more than 30 women using the facility.
However, National Coordinator of LIFE-ND, Abiodun Sanni, identified limited access to finance, market linkages and climate variability as challenges affecting agricultural productivity across participating states.
He said the project had exceeded initial expectations, reaching more than 26,400 beneficiaries in the first phase.