FG injects ₦31.35bn into Niger Delta rural economies through agripreneurship

The Federal Government, in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), announced that its flagship project, the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise-Niger Delta (LIFE-ND), has injected ₦31.35 billion into rural economies across the Niger Delta region.
‎
The announcement was made during the national event on Scaling Up Youth Agripreneurship for Food-Systems Transformation in Abuja on Tuesday.
‎
The LIFE-ND project focuses on integrating agriculture, youth empowerment, and development financing. ₦31.35 billion has been injected into rural economies, while approximately 23,751 new jobs are created, with 12,526 specifically for women.
‎
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Marcus O. Ogunbiyi, described the project as a national effort requiring synergy across sectors, integrating regional development and youth empowerment to achieve sustainable results.
‎
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, described the model as a shift from mere training to enterprise development, urging stakeholders to ensure commitment to actionable outcomes. The model incorporates, skills training, mentorship, digital tools, and market linkages.
‎
The National Project Coordinator, Dr. Abiodun Sanni, emphasized that the LIFE-ND project proves that with the right model, Nigeria can successfully convert its large youthful population from being job seekers into agripreneurial wealth creators capable of transforming the food system of the nation and achieving economic resilience.
‎
The project targets the Niger Delta region, aiming to diversify income and reduce dependency on oil. It leverages the ingenuity of young people in agrifood innovation, including areas like precision agriculture, AI-powered tools, digital marketplaces, and agro-processing.
‎
‎