Ms Dede Ekoue, Country Director of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, (IFAD) for Nigeria has disclosed that, Cross River State is a game changer in its project in Nigeria.
Ekoue made the assertion on Friday during the inauguration and hand-over of open market stalls, toilet and solar powered borehole in Uruandung Community, Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State.
The IFAD assisted Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise in the Niger Delta (LIFE ND) in collaboration with the Federal Government of Nigeria, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Cross River State is a project which targets rural communities.
The project which empowers unemployed and grossly underemployed youths within the ages of 18 and 35 years and female headed household, as well as people with disabilities, to improve their income and food security is ongoing in 10 LGAs and 100 communities of the State.
The Country Director who noted that the first phase of the programme which trained and empowered 26,000 agric entrepreneurs in the six IFAD assisted States of Abia, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Ondo had been concluded saying, the second phase, about to commence has been upscaled to accommodate about 100,000 beneficiaries.
She lauded the Government of Cross River State for a prompt disbursement of its counterpart fund and leadership which has enhanced the quality of the project in the state.
According to the IFAD Country Director, the successful results of Life ND and the strong commitment of states such as Cross River as well as the leadership of the Federal Government including FMAFS, FMF, NDDC have been instrumental in getting IFAD’s approval for LIFE ND phase II.
“We have just handed over a market infrastructure to Uruandung community to support the development of agriculture as a business because there is a lot of agricultural production here.
“We had to support our incubatees who were trained by LIFE-ND Project when they asked for an evacuation point for their produce.
“We are satisfied and from what I have heard from members of the community, this project is fit for purpose,” she said.
Similarly, Mr Johnson Ebokpo Jr, Cross River State Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development said that, the fact that the projects were need based was something to be commended.
According to him, gone are the days when projects are just sited without consultations with the community, so, part of the broader approach to produce evacuation from this community is to expand the size of this market.
“This will be done by the Local Government Council in consultation with the community and this project which has been handed over to the LG Council will be managed by the Council,” he noted.
On his part, Engr. Dr Abiodun Sanni, the National Project Coordinator of the FGN/NDDC/IFAD/LIFE ND Project stated that the projects were a demonstration of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said the community now had an open market stall, a toilet facility and a solar powered borehole which they requested for in terms of priority of infrastructure to drive agro entrepreneurship.
Mr Ephraim Eyo, Community Relation Officer for Akpabuyo LGA who spoke on behalf of the people of Uruandung Community thanked the partners, adding that they would protect and ensure sustainability of the infrastructures.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Cross River LIFE-ND State Programme Coordinator, Mr Innocent Moses Ogbin noted that there had been strong commitment of the Cross River State Government to the LIFE-ND Project. through payment of counterpart fund.
