NNPC Foundation on Friday announced that it has concluded plans to train 6,000 vulnerable farmers across Nigeria as part of its effort to strengthen food security and reduce reliance on food importation.
Speaking during the “Flag-Off Training for Farmers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja/Nigeria Cluster,” the Managing Director of NNPC Foundation, Emmanuella Arukwe, said the programme will cover all six geopolitical zones of the country.
Arukwe explained that the initiative is a direct response to food insecurity in Nigeria, noting that the project will increase local food production and improve national food security.
She said, “The initiative focuses on addressing food insecurity, a critical issue in Nigeria. By training farmers across the six geopolitical zones, the project targets increasing local food production, thus reducing reliance on food imports and enhancing national food security.”
According to her, the launch in Abuja marked the beginning of the training in the northern geopolitical zones, starting with the North Central. She recalled that the programme had earlier kicked off in Kogi, Kwara, and Benue States.
“I am very delighted to stand before you today as the NNPC Foundation officially launches Training Programme for Vulnerable farmers in the northern geopolitical zones. We take off in the north geopolitical zone with the North-Central, which we earlier commenced in the previous week with the cluster of Kogi, Kwara, and Benue States,” she said.
Arukwe also noted that the foundation had started the training in the southern geopolitical zones in the second quarter of 2025 and successfully concluded it. She stated that the programme aims to uplift the living standards of 6,000 farmers by equipping them with essential skills and knowledge in modern farming techniques.
She said, “NNPC Foundation is embarking on this farmers’ training programme across the six (6) geopolitical zones of Nigeria, targeting to uplift the living standards of 6,000 vulnerable farmers by equipping them with essential skills and knowledge in modern farming techniques.”
The managing director pointed out that many local farmers face several challenges, including lack of seedlings, poor yields, limited access to tools, transportation issues, climate change, and inadequate knowledge to handle these problems. She explained that the foundation decided to intervene to bridge these gaps.
According to her, the foundation believes that improving the agricultural practices of local farmers will boost their productivity and income, enabling them to move from subsistence to commercial farming.
She added that the programme will also help farming communities understand climate change and adopt practices that allow all-year-round planting, improved yield, and stronger livelihoods.
Arukwe said the programme goes beyond short-term relief and is designed to create lasting impact. “I can assure you that the knowledge that will be gained from the insightful sessions will be invaluable to not just the individual beneficiary, but will give birth a spiral effect that will benefit communities and our dear country in the long term.
It is pertinent to note that rather than provide food to feed people in the short term, it is better to teach them how to produce food and achieve lasting impact and sustainability. Beyond the numbers, the programme will empower individuals and communities for food sustenance and hopefully create a viable food export market,” she stated.
The initiative, she said, is vital for the stability of Nigeria’s food supply chain, community resilience, and economic growth. She expressed optimism that participants will use the knowledge gained to make informed decisions in their farming activities.
Meanwhile, the Mandate Secretary of Agriculture and Food, FCTA, Ibrahim Yaro, commended the NNPC Foundation for the initiative, describing agriculture as a solution to 60 percent of Nigeria’s social challenges. He stressed that food security should be part of every development agenda.
He said, “Food production has increased and the prices are coming down in FCT.” Yaro, however, warned the beneficiaries against misuse of the starter packs they will receive. He remarked, “Do not marry more wives with the starter packs from the foundation.”
The mandate secretary also urged the foundation to ensure that farmers are provided with adequate and reasonable support to enable them practice agriculture effectively. He emphasized that training must come before empowerment, noting that 75 percent of Nigerian farmers still operate at the subsistence level.
The NNPC Foundation reiterated that the programme is designed to create long-term sustainability by equipping farmers with practical knowledge and resources to strengthen the nation’s agricultural sector and reduce food importation.