The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is set to empower more than 25,500 youths and women in agriculture entrepreneurship throughout the Niger Delta states.
During a technical working session on Group Savings and Loan and Record/Bookkeeping held on Friday in Owerri, the capital of Imo State, the National Project Coordinator, Dr. Abiodun Sanni, emphasised the significance of the initiative, which is funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Participants in this session were drawn from all six states of the Niger Delta.
Represented by his Technical Assistant, Mr. Bunmi Ogunleye, Sanni stated, “The project has participating states from Niger Delta, which would access the $60 million loan funded by IFAD.
The project, which has two phases of six years, has a 12-year lifespan, with phase one starting in 2019.”
The six initial states involved since 2019 are Abia, Bayelsa, Ondo, Cross River, Edo, and Delta. Imo, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers joined the project in 2024, bringing the total to nine states in the Niger Delta.
“The essence of the project is to empower youths and women in agriculture entrepreneurship for self-reliance and sustainability,” Sanni continued. “The empowerment will focus on selected commodities, including cassava, plantain, fish, rice, cocoa, oil palm, and poultry.”
He added, “The empowerment will cover the entire value chain production, processing, and building capacity for marketing their products.
The training will enhance the skills of select individuals in proper record-keeping and documentation in business, enabling them to share this knowledge with others in their communities.”
To qualify for the project, participants must be unemployed, underemployed, and residing in rural areas.
The National Financial Inclusion Specialist, Obiageli Ekwelie, explained, “Participants learn under an expert on the commodities for a period determined by the gestation period of each commodity.
At the end of the training, they will be equipped to run a successful business with startup capital, which is often limited.
They will also understand the importance of increasing their savings culture, improve their credit ratings with financial institutions, and enhance their ability to document their enterprise activities.”
