The Federal Government’s Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises–Niger Delta project, known as LIFE-ND, has reported major gains across the Niger Delta region, with more than 21,000 farmers saving over 478 million dollars and thousands of youths and women receiving training, financial support, and access to new technology. The results were presented on Tuesday at the National Event on Scaling Up Youth Agripreneurship for Food Systems Transformation, held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja. The gathering brought together ministries, development partners, state governments, private sector organisations, and young agripreneurs to examine progress made so far and discuss how the initiative can be expanded nationwide.
According to the project’s executive summary, infrastructure development has been one of LIFE-ND’s strongest achievements. The programme has delivered 130.77 kilometres of access roads, six climate-resilient bridges, 71 culverts, and two jetties across multiple communities. These facilities, officials explained, are improving movement of goods, linking farmers to markets, and reducing post-harvest losses. The programme has also developed 5,305 hectares of farmland, built market and processing centres, and set up storage systems that support rural economic activity. In addition, 82 solar-powered water schemes now serve communities that previously lacked reliable access to clean water.
Financial inclusion is another area where LIFE-ND has recorded impressive results. Through its partnerships with financial institutions and agricultural off-takers, the project facilitated 1.2 million dollars in loans and credit for 18,668 beneficiaries. A total of 22,981 people accessed insurance, remittances, and similar services, many for the first time. Officials also reported that 21,498 farmers were able to mobilise collective savings amounting to 478 million dollars. More than 10,000 farmers have also been introduced to digital financial services through mobile wallets and POS systems, helping them become part of Nigeria’s formal financial system.
The programme has also improved food security and community nutrition in the region. Over 12,900 households benefited from nutrition support and training on bio-fortified crops. LIFE-ND established 117 school agricultural programmes and nutrition clubs that now engage over 6,300 students. In addition, 525 women were trained in cassava processing and value addition, creating opportunities to earn income from improved products.
With climate change posing increasing risks to agriculture, the project has invested in climate-smart approaches. A total of 1,600 stakeholders have been trained in climate-resilient practices. The project planted 27,145 agroforestry and economic trees across 104 communities and promoted waste-to-wealth innovations such as biogas digesters. These activities, officials said, are helping communities build resilience and improve long-term sustainability.
Digital transformation has also expanded under LIFE-ND. More than 3,000 smallholder farmers now use FarmerChat.AI to receive digital advisory support. Another 17,000 farmers get weekly updates on climate, markets, and nutrition through SMS services. A new national market information system provides weekly commodity price updates, helping farmers make better sales decisions and improve earnings.
During the presentation of the project’s progress, LIFE-ND National Coordinator, Dr Abiodun Sanni, said the programme has trained 29,620 youths and women across value chains such as cassava, rice, aquaculture, poultry, horticulture, and oil palm. Dr Sanni noted that the programme has created 23,751 new jobs and increased household incomes by an average of 50 percent. He highlighted the need to reposition agriculture as a business and strengthen value chain linkages. He also announced a strategy to scale the programme nationwide through a Youth Agripreneur Growth Fund, expanded public-private partnerships, and a national agripreneurship incubation model that would operate across all 36 states and the FCT. He said, “With the right model, Nigeria can convert its youthful population from job seekers to agripreneurs and wealth creators capable of transforming the nation’s food system.”
IFAD Country Director, Mrs Dede Ekoue, praised the Federal Government for extending LIFE-ND, describing it as an internationally recognised model that has supported nearly 24,000 youth-led agribusinesses. She urged stakeholders to address financing gaps, improve incubation and mentorship, remove barriers to land and market access, and prioritise women and youth. “Together with youth agripreneurs, we can transform agriculture into a driver of prosperity and resilience,” she said.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, said the FederalGovernmentofNigeria/NDDC/IFAD assisted programme demonstrates what focused intervention can achieve. He told the young beneficiaries that their creativity and willingness to take risks will influence the future of food systems. Kyari said, “We are here to listen to you, to specially note your challenges, and to create the enabling environment that allows your various ventures to grow, thrive, and create impact in quantum scale.” He added that government will strengthen land access and tenure assistance for youths, develop an innovative financing mechanism with simpler access, expand business development services, and provide digital platforms for agripreneurs. He also highlighted plans for climate adaptation training and a strong monitoring and evaluation system.
In his welcome remarks, Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, said LIFE-ND has become a national model for agripreneurship and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to competitive and climate-smart food systems.
