The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), through its Corporate Social Responsibility arm, the NNPC Foundation, has trained farmers in Nsukka, Enugu State, on modern agricultural practices and market access strategies to boost food security and economic empowerment.
Speaking during a 3-day training programme, on Tuesday in Nsukka, the Managing Director of NNPC Foundation, Mrs. Emmanuella Arukwe, said the initiative aligns with national priorities and supports the Federal Government’s agricultural transformation agenda.
Represented by Mrs. Goodnews Willie, Deputy Manager of Education and Healthcare Programmes, Arukwe described the training as a reflection of NNPC’s commitment to food security and sustainable development.
“This training is part of our broader effort to equip vulnerable farmers with modern, climate-resilient farming techniques. We are committed to enhancing food security, increasing productivity, and transforming smallholder farmers into commercial-scale producers,” she said.
Citing the March 2024 Cadre Harmonisé Report, Arukwe noted that over 31.5 million Nigerians currently face food insecurity. She emphasized the urgency of sustainable agricultural interventions that build resilience against climate change, economic shocks, and supply chain disruptions.
According to her, agriculture remains the primary livelihood for more than 70% of Nigeria’s population, yet many farmers remain trapped in subsistence farming due to limited access to resources. To address this, NNPC Foundation aims to train 6,000 farmers across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones in soil and water management, organic fertilization, and post-harvest loss reduction.
Declaring the training open, Enugu State Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialization, Mr. Patrick Ubru, praised NNPC Foundation for the initiative, describing it as timely and transformative.
“By focusing on climate-smart agriculture, we can cushion the effects of climate change and secure the future of our farming communities. I urge every farmer here to take full advantage of this opportunity,” Ubru said.
He assured that the Enugu State Government, under the leadership of Governor Peter Mbah, would continue to prioritize agriculture as a key driver of food security and rural empowerment.
Also speaking, Prof. Michael Uguru of the Department of Crop Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, who served as a resource person, said the farmers were trained on practical climate-smart methods tailored to prevailing environmental conditions.
“We introduced simple, effective techniques that can help improve yields and minimize losses without overwhelming the farmers,” he said.
One of the participants, Dorothy Ugwu from Ibegwa-Ani in Nsukka Local Government, expressed gratitude to the NNPC Foundation for the training.
“This has come at the perfect time as the farming season begins. I’ve learned new methods that will help me achieve a better harvest, and I will share this knowledge with other farmers in my community,” she said.
The training targeted farmers from the six local government areas that make up the Enugu North Senatorial Zone and forms part of a larger national effort to strengthen agriculture as a sustainable livelihood and pathway to food security.
