The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in collaboration with the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content, Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, has launched a strategic push to reposition agriculture as a viable economic growth driver in the Niger Delta, extending the local content framework beyond oil and gas into agribusiness.
The intervention, tagged the Linkage Capacity Building Programme in Agribusiness, was held in Oleh, Delta South Senatorial District, drawing farmers, agribusiness consultants, development experts and community leaders from across the region.
Represented by his Senior Special Adviser on Media, Publicity, Information and National Orientation, Paul Emumena Michael, Senator Thomas said the initiative was designed to institutionalise agriculture within the local content ecosystem and unlock structured economic opportunities for rural communities.
He noted that despite Delta South’s fertile soil and abundant water resources, farming in the area has remained largely subsistence-based due to weak technical structures and limited integration into formal supply chains.
According to him, the programme is equipping participants with practical knowledge in processing, value addition, quality control and market linkage, enabling them to transition from primary production to commercially viable agribusiness models.
“Agribusiness today goes beyond the hoe and machete. It is driven by data, processing, quality standards and entrepreneurship. Our goal is to position Delta South as the agricultural hub of the Niger Delta,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the NCDMB Executive Secretary, Felix Ogbe, Franklin Agatemor said the Board’s involvement underscores its commitment to diversifying regional economies and reducing overdependence on oil revenue.
He explained that the training seeks to dismantle the long-held perception that agriculture is an occupation for the poor, stressing that the sector holds immense value across its processing and packaging chains.
“The knowledge itself is priceless. Participants must take it seriously because it can transform livelihoods,” he said.
Programme Coordinator, Dr. Precious Itolima, representing Eone Agri Products Limited, said the initiative was structured to bridge the gap between traditional farming practices and modern agribusiness systems in southern Nigeria.
She observed that while other regions have embraced agriculture as a structured enterprise, many southern communities still treat it as subsistence work, limiting profitability and scalability.
Dr. Itolima emphasised that modern agriculture is anchored on mechanisation, agritech solutions, data management and structured financing, noting that financial institutions are increasingly willing to support farmers who operate within professional frameworks.
“Agriculture must be seen as a profitable business and a respected career. The South has the capacity to lead not only in Nigeria but globally,” she said.
Facilitators at the programme reinforced the business-oriented approach. Dr. Chimenem Ukpatu, a Community and Rural Development Specialist, urged participants to understand value chain dynamics and avoid attempting to manage every stage of production alone, warning that such practices often result in losses.
She encouraged collaboration, processing and market expansion beyond immediate communities as critical steps toward sustainability.
Similarly, Manna Freeman, Managing Director of DHB Greenery Farm in Bayelsa, focused on technical fundamentals such as soil testing, irrigation systems and structured farm planning. She stressed that successful farming requires technical competence, teamwork and sound financial management.
“Farming requires more than passion; it requires vision. With clarity of purpose, setbacks can be managed and sustainability achieved,” she said.
Participants described the programme as practical and transformative. Kelvin Oghenero Ahomafo, a poultry and crop farmer from Isoko with over 15 years of experience, said the sessions addressed persistent operational challenges on his farm, particularly in pepper and tomato production.
“From the first few classes, I can already identify solutions to some of my problems. I expect a turnaround in my agribusiness,” he said.
For Otagba Elo Cynthia, a young graduate, the training reshaped her perception of agriculture. She admitted she previously viewed the sector as an option for the poor but now sees it as a viable and profitable career path, especially for youths and women.
“Everybody must eat. Agriculture holds enormous potential. I now see it as a serious opportunity,” she said.
The programme signals a broader shift in regional development thinking, positioning agribusiness as a strategic extension of Nigeria’s local content agenda and a sustainable pathway for economic diversification in the Niger Delta.
