About 900 youth and women in Imo State have received start-up capital under the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) initiative, a programme jointly supported by the Federal Government, the Niger Delta Development Commission, the Imo State Government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.
The disbursement covered the second and third groups of trainees who recently completed their incubation programme. The ceremony took place in Owerri and drew the presence of representatives of the partner institutions, traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders.
The project focuses on strengthening income generation, food availability and employment opportunities for rural youths and women through sustainable agribusiness development across the nine Niger Delta states. The states include Abia, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Ondo under IFAD support, as well as Akwa Ibom, Imo and Rivers under the NDDC component.
Speaking during the event, the National Agribusiness Promotion Coordinator of the programme, Mrs Anthonia Esenwa, explained that the initiative goes beyond training participants. According to her, the programme is designed to build practical skills and discipline while also providing the resources needed for young people to establish successful agricultural enterprises along different value chains.
Esenwa said the beneficiaries had demonstrated determination and commitment during the incubation phase, noting that the financial support was meant to help them begin independent business activities and eventually become employers in their communities.
The Imo State Project Coordinator, Mrs Victoria Igboanugo, disclosed that the programme targets rural youths between 18 and 35 years as well as women up to 50 years, particularly those heading households. She stated that the latest beneficiaries include 307 participants from the second batch and 590 from the third batch, with 68 persons living with disabilities among them.
Igboanugo explained that the incubatees would use the funds to purchase inputs and equipment directly from approved dealers who would supply them at reduced prices. She warned the beneficiaries to ensure the funds were used strictly for the intended agribusiness activities, stressing that monitoring mechanisms had been established to track compliance and sanction any diversion of the grants.
In hos remarks, Imo State Governor Senator Hope Uzodimma, represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Chief Cosmas Maduba, commended the progress made by earlier beneficiaries who have already begun managing their own agribusiness ventures. He described the initiative as a highly effective empowerment programme that has generated strong interest among young people and women in rural communities across the state.
Igboanugo also expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu, the leadership of the Niger Delta Development Commission, the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the Imo State Government for sustaining the programme aimed at improving livelihoods in the region.
