The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has urged Nigeria to harness its youth’s potential to achieve its desired food sovereignty.
The fund’s Country Director, Dede Ekoue, made the call in Benin on Thursday during the 5th Supervision Mission of the Federal Government, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and IFAD-Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises — Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) Project.
Ekoue said that the LIFE-ND project aims to empower youths and women with practical skills in agriculture business in the Niger Delta region.
To achieve this, the programme adopted a model where all trainees undergo what it referred to as incubation.
The country director, therefore, said that IFAD invested over $30 million in the first phase of the LIFE-ND project, with more than 26,000 beneficiaries.
She added that “we are talking about agricultural food system transformation; it is a key topic on the global platform.
“Food sovereignty cannot be achieved without fully harnessing the potential of youths in agriculture.
“The youth population is huge, so, LIFE-ND is aimed at empowering them with practical skills, using the business incubation model.
“By the time they go through the incubation process, they come out as business owners.’’
The country director highlighted the programme’s success in linking agricultural business owners to markets, enabling them to generate income and sales
“Creating jobs for youths is the key to enabling growth; it is the key to peace; it is the key to development’’, she stressed.
On women empowerment, Ekoue said “LIFE-ND also emphasises women. Women are key to food production; they are key to food transformation; they are key to food sovereignty and proper nutrition.”
The National Coordinator of LIFE-ND, Dr Abiodun Sanni, disclosed that the first phase of the programme had 26,470 beneficiaries, including young agro-entrepreneurs, youths, women and persons with disabilities.
He expressed commitment to actualising the transformative agenda of the project, which aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Blessing Omole, one of the beneficiaries of the LIFE-ND project, said she attended the three-month training and was able to save part of the stipend given to her during the course.
She explained that “I was given N100,000 after the training as one of the best students and I decided to add it to my savings and started a day-old bird business to maturity, and I’m doing well.’’
Grace Nwozuzua, a physically challenged beneficiary, said she never thought it would be possible due to her condition, but she thanked God for making it a reality that she could single-handedly raise day-old birds to maturity.
Mavis Edoghawere, who is into fishery, thanked God for benefiting from the LIFE-ND project. He said “I now have workers and trainers.’’
