No fewer than 15,000 farmers have benefitted from the Smart Agriculture Initiative of the NNPC Foundation aimed at improving agricultural productivity and food security in Nigeria. The beneficiaries received intensive training under the NNPC Ltd/Gte Vulnerable Farmers Training Programme.
Emanuella Arukwe, managing director of the NNPC Foundation, stated this during the closing of the training exercise held on Saturday in Kaktungo, Kaltungo Local Government Area of Gombe State. She described the programme as “a national journey toward resilience, food security, and economic empowerment.”
Represented by Bala T. David, executive director of programme development at NNPC Foundation, Ms Arukwe explained that the initiative exposed over 2,000 beneficiaries to climate-smart agriculture under the Gombe Cluster, which comprises Gombe, Adamawa, and Taraba States. She said the exercise targeted about 4,000 farmers in the North-East and 15,000 across the country, with a focus on improving agricultural productivity and boosting market access.
“What began as a bold intervention to strengthen rural livelihoods has evolved into a nationwide movement that embodies hope, resilience, and sustainability,” she said.
She noted that the programme was designed not just for short-term relief but for long-term transformation, equipping farmers with practical knowledge in climate-smart agriculture, market access, post-harvest handling, and agribusiness competitiveness. She highlighted the inclusive nature of the training, which ensured over 35 per cent participation by women and youth. The training also focused on packaging and climate adaptation strategies to support farmers in responding to environmental changes.
“In terms of health, safety, and security. We are proud to report zero lost-time injuries across all phases and zero security incidents during implementation. This was made possible through close collaboration with key stakeholders, including traditional leaders, local authorities, and security agencies. Ensuring safety and peace remained our highest priority at each training centre,” she added.
Barnabas Malle, Commissioner for Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperatives in Gombe State, commended the initiative, describing it as a major step toward transforming the agricultural sector under the leadership of Governor Inuwa Yahaya. He said the ministry is working with development partners to train over 5,000 women and youths in modern agricultural practices for sustainable development.
Some of the beneficiaries, Habila Bitrus and Serah Yakubu, expressed their appreciation, noting that they had acquired valuable skills to practice climate-smart agriculture in response to the impact of global warming.