The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has pledged to strengthen and expand the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises – Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) project with the goal of creating over 38,250 new entrepreneurs and boosting participation across key agricultural value chains.
The assurance was given by the NDDC Managing Director, Samuel Ogbuku, during a one-day workshop in Abuja focused on “Scaling Up Youth Agripreneurship in Nigeria for Food Systems Transformation.”
Ogbuku was represented by the Acting Director of the NDDC Liaison Office in Abuja, Mary Nwaeke.Ogbuku described the LIFE-ND project as a transformative platform capable of unlocking economic opportunities for thousands of young people in the Niger Delta region.
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He highlighted that the NDDC’s US$30 million counterpart funding underscores the Commission’s commitment to youth agripreneurship as a strategic tool for promoting peace, stability, and economic growth.
“We are not just building farms; we are building futures. We are not just cultivating crops; we are cultivating prosperity,” Ogbuku stated.
He acknowledged the challenges facing the sector, including food inflation, fragmented value chains, an ageing farming population, climate vulnerabilities, and limited access to finance.
Ogbuku noted that these very challenges present opportunities to nurture a new generation of agripreneurs who can revitalise rural economies.
Also speaking at the workshop, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Marcus Ogunbiyi, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening food security nationwide.
He urged stakeholders to deepen collaborations with government and development partners to ensure a stable and effective food supply system.
In his remarks, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, expressed appreciation to the NDDC and LIFE-ND for supporting initiatives aimed at achieving national food security.
The LIFE-ND project, which officially began in 2019 and is a joint initiative with the Federal Government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), operates through an agribusiness incubation model.
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The initiative equips beneficiaries with technical skills, mentorship, and start-up support, specifically focusing on key commodities with comparative advantage in the Niger Delta region.
These core value chains include cassava, rice, aquaculture (Fishery), poultry, plantain, oil palm and cocoa.
The project aims to enhance income, food security, and job creation for rural youth and women.
