The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has pledged to strengthen and expand the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises – Niger Delta, LIFE-ND, project to create over 38,250 new agric entrepreneurs and increase youth participation across key agricultural value chains.
The assurance was given by the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, during a one-day workshop on Scaling Up Youth Agripreneurship for Food Systems Transformation held at the Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja. The workshop was hosted by the LIFE-ND project and focused on the theme, “Scaling Up Youth Agripreneurship in Nigeria for Food Systems Transformation.”
Ogbuku, who was represented by the Acting Director of the NDDC Liaison Office in Abuja, Mrs Mary Nwaeke, said the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large possess vast agricultural potential that can be harnessed to drive economic growth and food security. He, however, acknowledged existing challenges including food inflation, fragmented agricultural value chains, ageing farming populations, climate related vulnerabilities, and limited access to finance and modern technologies.
According to him, these challenges present opportunities to nurture a new generation of agripreneurs who can revitalise rural economies and transform Nigeria’s food systems through innovation and enterprise development.
He reaffirmed the Commission’s readiness to partner with all relevant stakeholders to create an enabling environment where youth led agribusinesses can grow and compete sustainably. “We are not just building farms; we are building futures. We are not just cultivating crops; we are cultivating prosperity,” Ogbuku said.
The NDDC Chief Executive Officer further reiterated the Commission’s strong commitment to scaling up the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises – Niger Delta, LIFE-ND, project, describing it as a transformative platform capable of unlocking economic opportunities for thousands of young people across the Niger Delta.
He noted that the NDDC’s US$30 million counterpart funding demonstrates the Commission’s support for youth agripreneurship and economic growth in the region.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, restated the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening food security nationwide. He urged stakeholders to deepen collaboration with development partners to ensure an effective food supply system across the country.
In his remarks, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, expressed appreciation to the NDDC, LIFE-ND, and other partners for supporting government initiatives aimed at achieving national food security. He also commended the National Project Coordinator of the LIFE-ND project for ensuring the programme’s sustainability.
