With the commencement of a two-day orientation for the first batch of the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises Niger Delta (LIFE-ND Project) for Incubatees, under it’s Additional Financial Project in Delta State, the state’s Project Coordinator, Mr. Collins Ashoro, has admonished the Incubatees to be ready to become potential change Agents in their respective communities at the end of their trainings.
Mr. Ashoro, who gave the advice, during the orientation exercise in Asaba the Delta State capital, and Ughelli, in Ughelli North Local Government Area, said, the exercise marked the collective efforts of the LIFE-ND Project to empower rural youths and women, through agribusiness development, job creation, and sustainable livelihood.
The first phase of the additional Financing Project, he said, was expected to accommodate 630 incubatees, carefully selected across six Local Government Areas of the state, involves young, and vibrant incubatees, that wound be engaged across four key commodities enterprises – Cassava production, Oil palm processing, Poultry production, and Fish production, together with their respective value chain.
Each of the commodities, Mr. Ashoro said, holds strategic importance for food security, income generation, and industrial development in the state.
The purpose of the orientation, he said, “is to acquaint you, our incubatees, with the workings of the LIFE-ND Project – It’s objectives, expectations, and implementation process”.
“More importantly, this forum is designed to prepare you for the journey ahead – to train you on the rudiments of agribusiness, financial literary, value addition, and entrepreneurship”, Mr. Ashoro added.
He, therefore, urged the incubatees not to only aspire to become successful farmers or processors, but also Agripreneurs- Inovative business owners, who will drive rural enterprise and economic transformation in their respective communities.
Disclosing that the LIFE-ND Project is jointly funded by the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), the Nigerian Government, through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and the Delta State Government, Mr. Ashoro said , the goal of the project was to enhance the income, employment, and food security of rural youths, and women, through incubation and mentorship in selected agricultural commodities.
Declaring the orientation open, the State’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Barr. Val Arenyika, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Orioko Edmond, informed the Incubatees that, they were the future of the States agricultural transformation, as the LIFE-ND Project was in line with the “Renewed Hope” Vision of President Bola Tinubu and the MORE Agenda of Gov Sheriff Oborevwori administration.
Highpoint of the occasion was a practical session for the incubatees that exposed them to Record Keeping/Business Plan Development, Infrastructure/land requirement, and many aspects of agriculture.
