Port Harcourt — Di Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), in partnership with Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises–Niger Delta (LIFE-ND), don step up effort to transform agriculture across di Niger Delta region.
As part of dia oversight work, officials from NDDC and LIFE-ND recently waka go inspect agricultural incubation centres for Akwa Ibom, Imo and Rivers states, to check how di programme dey perform and di impact e don make for rural communities.
While inspecting Megalakes Farms for Ogu Town, Rivers State, Director of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr Winifred Madume, tok say di inspection na routine exercise to make sure say di programme dey follow dia mandate well.
According to am, di oversight na to ensure say di training dey on track and align with NDDC commitment to counterpart funding, as well as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Renewed Hope Agenda on agricultural and rural economic development.
Madume add say di exercise give dem chance to interact directly with incubatees from different batches and identify areas wey need improvement under LIFE-ND programme. She explain say di initiative na joint effort between NDDC, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Federal Government and participating state governments. Di inspection cover centres for Delta, Imo and Akwa Ibom states within three days.
Special Assistant on Agriculture to di NDDC Managing Director, Mr Abi Morris, express satisfaction with di level of implementation and di enthusiasm wey young agripreneurs show, especially those wey don start dia own businesses or still dey incubation.
Speaking during inspection for training centre for Sogho, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, Morris describe di programme as “development in action,” say e no just end for training but dey open new livelihood opportunities and change mindset of youths.
He assure say NDDC go continue to support initiatives wey dey equip young people with skills and resources, adding say challenges identified during di exercise dey addressed already.
One of di beneficiaries for Sogho, Miss Nzhu Salome, thank NDDC say di programme help am get both knowledge and funding to start garri marketing business.
For Imo State, Director II, Agriculture and Fisheries, Mr Tonye Frank-Oputu, praise di incubatees, say dia progress show say dem dey use di opportunities from LIFE-ND programme well.
He say di achievements so far prove say di programme dey yield positive results.
Also for Imo State, another incubatee for Ibiasoegbe, Oru West Local Government Area, Miss Ibigineh Doreen, tok say LIFE-ND don greatly improve her fish farming business.
During inspection for Akwa Ibom State, Director for Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr Oretan Adebowale, urge beneficiaries for Adiasim Ikot Essin, Essien Udim Local Government Area, to apply di skills dem don learn to promote sustainable agriculture for dia communities.
According to am, from wetin dem observe, di incubation model dey work well.
Another beneficiary, Mr Ohaka Emmanuel, thank NDDC and Federal Government, say di programme equip am with practical skills for fish production, processing and marketing.
