The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), in collaboration with the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises–Niger Delta (LIFE-ND), has intensified efforts to drive agricultural transformation across the Niger Delta region through sustained oversight and support for young agripreneurs.
As part of its oversight responsibilities, officials of the NDDC and LIFE-ND inspected agricultural incubation centres in Akwa Ibom, Imo, and Rivers states to evaluate the performance of the programme in rural communities.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Thursday by the NDDC Director of Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, and made available to journalists.
Speaking during the inspection of Megalakes Farms in Ogu Town, Rivers State, the Director of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr Winifred Madume, said the visit was a routine inspection aimed at assessing the level of implementation of the programme.
She explained that the oversight exercise was designed to ensure that the training activities remained aligned with the core mandate.
“This oversight function is to ensure that the training is on track with its mandate. The NDDC’s commitment to meeting its counterpart funding obligations and driving rural economic transformation is in alignment with the agricultural development objectives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” Madume said.
According to her, the inspection also created an opportunity to engage directly with incubatees across different batches and identify areas requiring improvement under the LIFE-ND programme.
Madume noted that the LIFE-ND initiative is a collaborative programme involving the NDDC, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the Federal Government, and participating state governments.
She added that the three-day inspection exercise covered incubation centres in Delta, Imo, and Akwa Ibom states.
The Special Assistant on Agriculture to the NDDC Managing Director, Mr Abi Morris, expressed satisfaction with the level of implementation of the programme and the enthusiasm shown by young agripreneurs.
Morris made the remarks during an inspection of one of the training centres in Sogho, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.
“This programme is a clear demonstration of development in action. It goes beyond training to unlocking livelihoods and reshaping mindsets,” he said.
“The commission will continue to support initiatives that equip our youth with the skills and resources to succeed. We have taken note of the challenges faced by these young agripreneurs and ensured that necessary adjustments are made,” Morris added.
One of the beneficiaries in Sogho, Rivers State, Miss Nzhu Salome, thanked the NDDC for the initiative, noting that the programme had provided her with the knowledge and funding to establish her own garri marketing enterprise.
During oversight activities in Imo State, Director II, Agriculture and Fisheries, Mr Tonye Frank-Oputu, emphasised the importance of the initiative while commending the incubatees for their progress.
“The incubatees have shown sheer dedication and have achieved a lot so far. Their progress is clear evidence that the opportunities provided under the LIFE-ND programme are being effectively utilised,” he said.
Also in Imo State, Ibigineh Doreen, an incubatee at Ibiasoegbe in Oru West Local Government Area, commended the programme for improving her fish farming venture.
During oversight activities in Akwa Ibom State, a Director in Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr Oretan Adebowale, charged beneficiaries in Adiasim Ikot Essin, Essien Udim Local Government Area, to apply the knowledge gained to promote sustainable agriculture.
“From our interactions and observations, it is evident that the incubation model is efficient,” he said.
One of the incubatees, Mr Ohaka Emmanuel, thanked the NDDC and the Federal Government for the initiative.
“This training has given me the opportunity to learn fish production during the programme period successfully,” he said.
