The National Project Coordinator (NPC) of the FGN/NDDC/IFAD Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises–Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) Project has unveiled the project’s strategic direction for 2026, with renewed emphasis on inclusion, financial access, climate resilience and value chain expansion across the Niger Delta region.
In a New Year message obtained by AgroNigeria, the NPC expressed gratitude to stakeholders, partners, incubators, incubatees, host communities, government agencies and project teams at both state and national levels, describing their collective efforts as the driving force behind the project’s growing impact across the region, while expressing optimism for a productive and sustainable year ahead.
Reflecting on progress made in the outgoing year, the NPC commended incubatees, incubators, producers, processors, marketers, extension agents, financial partners and policy advocates for their collective contribution to the project’s growing impact. According to the statement, their commitment to innovation, resilience and inclusive growth has strengthened agri-enterprise opportunities across the Niger Delta.
The Coordinator disclosed that in the past year, the LIFE-ND Project expanded training and mentorship for emerging agripreneurs, deliberately targeting youth, women and Persons with Disability (PwDs). Scalable value chain interventions were also implemented to boost production, improve product quality, expand market access, promote financial inclusion and stabilise incomes for smallholder farmers as well as previously unemployed and underemployed youths and women.
The statement further noted that the project accelerated the adoption of sustainable farming practices, including gender- and nutrition-sensitive agripreneurship, climate-resilient agriculture and smart agronomy tools, while strengthening partnerships with public institutions, private sector actors and development partners to mobilise resources and share knowledge.
Reaffirming the project’s long-term vision, the NPC said LIFE-ND remains committed to transforming the rural economy of the Niger Delta in a way that delivers prosperity and equal benefit to rural populations, while creating an enabling environment for innovative agripreneurs to thrive, contribute to food security and drive inclusive economic growth.
Outlining priorities for the year ahead, the Coordinator said the project will scale up and strengthen its incubation model, with deliberate support for business development services. Planned actions include expanded hands-on training for incubatees, incubators and mentors, and the deployment of practical, market-driven curricula covering business planning, financial literacy, packaging, branding and digital marketing.
Other focus areas include end-to-end value chain development from production to processing, packaging and export readiness; improved access to finance, warehouse facilities, warm and cold chain logistics; and strengthened collective marketing systems. The project will also promote agroecology, efficient water use, soil health management and reduced post-harvest losses, alongside the adoption of climate-smart technologies and digital decision-support tools.
According to the statement, LIFE-ND will deepen inclusion and rural prosperity by ensuring youth, women and other marginalised groups have leadership opportunities and access to productive resources, while supporting community-led cooperatives and farmer-driven enterprises. Collaboration with government agencies, NGOs, industry players and financial institutions will be strengthened, supported by transparent monitoring and evaluation systems to track impact and continuously improve project delivery.
The NPC added that digital transformation and market access will be enhanced through expanded online marketplaces, e-extension services and data-driven advisory platforms, alongside improved traceability, quality assurance and consumer confidence.
Looking ahead, beneficiaries can expect regional showcases and market linkage events to connect producers with national and international buyers, additional incubatee training hubs and processing centres to accelerate value addition across commodities, and an enhanced monitoring and evaluation framework to support evidence-based policy engagement.
The Coordinator urged incubatees to remain actively engaged by participating in training and knowledge-sharing sessions, mentoring aspiring youth agripreneurs and contributing to policy dialogues aimed at building a resilient and prosperous agricultural economy in the Niger Delta and beyond.
Expressing appreciation to implementing and funding partners, the NPC acknowledged the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the project donor, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), as well as partner institutions and host communities. Incubators and incubatees were described as “the heartbeat of the project.”
The LIFE-ND Project is designed to transform the rural economy of the Niger Delta by enhancing income, food security and job creation for rural youth and women through sustainable agri-enterprise development. It is implemented in nine states—Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers covering 10 local government areas and 10 communities in each state.
Targeting youths aged 18 to 35 and women with children aged 15 years and below, the project exceeded its initial target of 25,500 beneficiaries, reaching 26,470 beneficiaries over six years of implementation between 2019 and 2025. An additional financing phase designed to run for three years commenced on April 1, 2025.
