…beneficiary target surpassed – LIFE-ND Nat’l Coordinator

By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA- THE Federal Government, International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD, and Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Friday, commended the impact of the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in the Niger Delta, LIFE-ND, Project, for transforming the lives of thousands of youth and women in the Niger Delta region.

The commendation was made during the wrap-up of the 4th Supervision Mission for the LIFE-ND Project, in Abuja.

The Country Director, IFAD, Dede Ekoue, in a remark, expressed delight and described the Mission as a powerful demonstration of the transformative potential of rural development projects and truly inspiring.

In attendance at the wrap-up include representatives of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Federal Ministry of Finance, the State Government, the NDDC, Commissioners from Abia, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, and Ondo, the LIFE-ND Project Team, and the media.

Ekoue said: “I am delighted to join you today for the wrap-up of the 4th Supervision Mission for the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises Project in the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND). This mission has been a powerful demonstration of the transformative potential of rural development projects.

“The progress witnessed during the field visits is truly inspiring. We have seen the positive impact of LIFE-ND on the lives of rural youth and women in Ondo State and data reflected similar impressive results in all the participating states. The impressive results are evident across all the value chains of the project intervention ranging from improved agricultural practices to the establishment of thriving small businesses, the project is empowering communities and fostering a brighter future for the youth and women in the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria.

“Permit me to highlight some of the impressive results of the project: Outreach: Overall, LIFE-ND has reached 26,470 smallholder farmers against 25,500 LoP target representing 104% of the planned target by project completion in 2025.

“Provided women and youth access to over 3,589 ha of farmland. LIFE-ND collaborated with the government and community leadership to secure 6,500 ha of farmland for the landless women, youth and smallholder farmers.

“Linked the incubators and incubates to regional agribusiness network. The project has linked the young and mature enterprises to the West African Youth Agribusiness Network. Through this linkage, over 12,000 enterprises leveraged knowledge around new technologies to advance their business operations.

“Market Infrastructure Development. LIFE-ND has intervened in key infrastructures (roads, production and processing facilities) and made the following achievements: 83.78km earth road, 51 culverts, 2 landing jetties, 2 small bridges constructed or rehabilitated; 40 mini poultry production cluster facilities and 8 poultry clusters building constructed. 71 poultry buildings rehabilitated for graduate incubates; 15 fishery production cluster facilities and 92 earthen ponds with a capacity of 184,000 fish constructed/rehabilitated and put into use. 592 collapsible tarpaulin fishpond tanks for 250 incubatees.

“40 processing facilities, 15 drying slabs for quality rice executed, 14 market store facilities constructed; 59 water borehole facilities provided in six states to improve sanitation and hygiene within the incubation centres, community farms and environment; 16 rainwater harvesters provided, 7 small scale irrigation sites developed, 30 irrigation tools/equipment provided to 30 women for dry season vegetable production amongst others

“This success is a testament to the remarkable collaboration between all stakeholders.

“At this juncture, I would like to reiterate that IFAD remains a steadfast partner in supporting the development of sustainable rural livelihoods in the Niger Delta region and Nigeria as a whole. We are confident that through continued collaboration and innovation, LIFE-ND will continue to empower rural communities and contribute to a more prosperous and food-secure future for all.

“This 4th Supervision Mission has been a resounding success, solidifying the positive trajectory of the LIFE-ND project.

Meanwhile, she said the NDDC being a crucial partner in the LIFE-ND Project, said, “We value your partnership in this crucial project and look forward to more evidence of your commitment to this project. Looking ahead, the urgent disbursement of NDDC funding to the project is critical for maximizing its positive impact.

“With the payment of their funding, we can expand the LIFE-ND initiative to the remaining three states (Rivers, Imo and Akwa Ibom) in the Niger Delta region.

“This will undoubtedly empower even more youth and women, rural communities, fostering sustainable livelihoods and contributing significantly to the overall development of the region.

Meanwhile, the Director, Project Coordination Unit, PCU, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Bukar Musa, said the Mission gave them graphic evidence of successes recorded by the LIFE-ND Project.

“This mission has provided us with invaluable insights into the achievements and challenges faced by the project, and it has reaffirmed our collective resolve to improve the livelihoods of the people in the Niger Delta region.

“Like I said in Ondo State during the field visit, I can confidently say that this mission has helped us to get all our perceived successes of the project being validated by physical evidence”, Musa added.

Also speaking was the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, said the LIFE-ND Project is impacting lives of the people in the region, and expressed optimism that the best is still to come and that what is on ground is enough evidence of the best that would unfold in the region.

Ogbuku who was represented by the Director, Agric and Fisheries, NDDC, Olumide Epebinu, also called for sustainability of the programme, and said there is still room for improvement of the project in the region.

He said: “The LIFE-ND is a game changer for the youth and women in the Niger Delta region because if you look at the level of participation now, the number of beneficiaries that is the youth and women group it is discovered that the programme and modus being adopted is a life changer.

On sustaining the LIFE-ND Project, the NDDC is a partner, and like I said I need to reiterate over and over again. Our commitment as NDDC on behalf of the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, NDDC, has demonstrated commitment towards the implementation of this Programme in the Niger Delta because it compliments what we are doing; our mandate area is the Niger Delta region, and this Programme itself is targeting the rural populace, creating livelihood, and ameliorating socio-economic difficulties in the Niger Delta region.

We will continue to do that within the limit of resources that are available for the Commission.”

On the side-lines of the Wrap-up, the Cross River State Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development Johnson Ebokpo, said, “I have qualified the LIFE-ND Project as the most impactful development or donor partnership programme we have in Cross River State that is because it basically brings our people into the money system because if you check the method of intervention is such that it is from the farm gate through infrastructural development up to the market.”

The National Project Coordinator, FG, NDDC/IFAD Assisted LIFE-ND, Project, Dr Abiodun Sanni, said, “The Supervision Mission has actually identified the strength of the project, what we have done consistently in the design of the project, and also identified lessons that we need to build upon, raise up the game of the Project and likely achieve on its goals and objectives.

“So as a project we are going to intensify our strength and also look at areas where there are gaps and see how we can correct such gaps so that eventually the funds that are provided are maximized positively in the interest of the youth and women of the Niger Delta region.”