…Another 500 set to start
Initial 350 farmers regarded as ‘food soldiers’ have completed their technical training in Rivers State. Another 500 are said to have been profiled to begin theirs, making initial 850 out of the 4,250 to be recruited into the food army.
The 4,250 is part of the 12,750 being catered for by the major sponsor, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) with $30m or N45Bn out of which $5m or N7.5Bn has so far been released.
NDDC is working with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) which put down $90m six years ago to bring agric revolution in six previous states in the Niger Delta region. The entire food army project is to be 38,250 as soon as the NDDC 12,750 team completely joins.
Samuel Ogbuku, managing director of the NDDC, has thus demanded for intensive inspection of the agripreneurs in all of the three states of Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Imo to be sure of their situation and areas of further support to ensure the objective is met. The 4-day inspection visit began midweek in all the three states.
Speaking during the visit to the centres on Wednesday, June 24, 2025, Loveday Itatat, the Rivers State Project Coordinator, expressed satisfaction with the implementation so far.
He explained thus: “We’ve reached 66 communities in just six to eight months. The first batch involved 350 incubatees and 25 incubators. We have now selected the second batch and are currently profiling them.
“Hopefully, results will be out by the first week of July, and we are targeting additional 500 youths”.
According to Itatat, the purpose of the inspection was to provide evidence that the initiative is yielding tangible results.
He explained further: “We met the incubatees on ground; they showed us what they’ve learnt. It’s real, and the impact is visible. The youths are eager, asking when the next batch will start. This shows our effort is not in vain.”
Evidence during the visits showed that youths and rural dwellers in Rivers State may be beginning to reap the rewards of the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises Project in the Niger Delta (Life-ND) as the National Project Coordinating Office of the NDDC embarked on the inspection tour across several communities to assess the progress of the initiative’s first batch.
The visit, which covered 12 communities across five local government areas, revealed a vibrant display of skills, innovation, and business readiness among the 350 incubatees who have been trained under the project in areas such as aquaculture and poultry.
LIFE-ND is being funded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the Federal Government in a partnership tagged FG/IFAD/NDDC/LIFE-ND project.
Incubation centres visited included aquaculture hubs, poultry farms including brood-and-sell broilers. There are also various categories fish business such as fish production, processing, marketing.
Read also: Agric revolution in Niger Delta: IFAD/NDDC team begins intensive inspection in Akwa Ibom
One such location was Megalakes Fish Farm in Ogu Bolo, where Ayinde Peter, the farm manager, stated, “We have the capacity to handle over three million tilapia at once. Thirty incubatees are currently being trained here, and the turnout has been impressive.”
Also speaking, Stella Manureh, Assistant Director at NDDC and the organisation’s representative on the project, described the visit as a technical oversight function.
She stated: “We asked the incubatees questions. They were confident, knowledgeable, and grateful for the training they’ve received. It’s important we see things ourselves since NDDC is the donor and head of the technical support committee.”
At Defaka-Ama and Ozu-ochie in Opobo/Nkoro LGA, the State Agric Promotions Officer, Jemina Horsfall, confirmed that the apprenticeship stage has been completed for both short and long-term incubatees.
“In Ozu-ochie, we trained 14 incubatees in poultry, and in Defaka-ama, 10 were trained in aquaculture and fish marketing. Some have already received funds to begin their mentorship phase”.
The trainees known as incubatees on the programme expressed thanks to NDDC for the training with high hopes to establish theirs.
Mary Ishmael from Ogu Bolo, in fish production department, described how the programme gave her the skills to be able to manage her own fish pond in the future.
“The training has been amazing. I’ve learnt many things, how to produce, how to sort, and how to manage my own pond when I have one, I’m grateful to NDDC, IFAD, and Federal Government for organising this programme for us,” she said, despite sharing her personal struggle with physical strain during sorting.
Also, Ereyika Harrison in fish processing revealed how the project helped her not only process and spice fish but also develop a brand and register her business.
“Before, I was just selling fish. Now I can keep records and teach others,” she said proudly.
Darling Oruitemeka in fish marketing, said the training changed her perspective. “I now understand the importance of keeping records, marketing on social media, and growing my business to reach rural areas where fish is scarce.”
Chief Executive Officer of Agiotedem Farms and incubator in Bolo Town, who’s centre serves as an incubation site, praised the trainees’ dedication. “Their commitment shocked me. We even added a marketing module to empower them further. The only challenge we face is electricity and lack of cold storage,” he noted.
Incubatees like Ben-Iwo Charity and Isaiah Ibim in poultry farming spoke passionately about their newly acquired skills.
“I now know how to handle chicks, clean the brooding room, and even what to wear to the farm,” said Charity.
“I know how to pick egg and plant tomato,” added Ibim joyfully in Pidgin English.
The LIFE-ND project is designed to reduce youth unemployment, enhance food security, and empower rural families across the Niger Delta through sustainable agriculture and agribusiness.
Each state has its priority commodities: Cassava, Oil Palm, Poultry, and Aquaculture for Akwa Ibom; Cassava, Rice, Poultry, and Aquaculture for Imo; and Cassava, Plantain, Poultry, and Aquaculture for Rivers; Akwa Ibom focuses on Cassava, Oil Palm, Poultry, and Aquaculture. These are implemented across the full agricultural value chain of production, processing, and marketing.
Every enterprise has its own gestation period, which determines how long trainees spend in the apprenticeship phase. Once completed, incubatees move into the mentorship stage, where they apply what they’ve learnt under close guidance. Upon successful completion, the project offers them financial support referred to as working capital to help them launch their own businesses.
This recent field exercise is part of a routine oversight tour by the NDDC under the leadership of Ogbuku.
With the first batch nearing completion and preparations for the second batch well underway, there’s growing optimism among rural dwellers that the initiative will not only transform their livelihoods but build agripreneurs ready to feed and lead the communities.
The FG/IFAD/NDDC/LIFE-ND scheme seems to be the strongest and most direct agric and food security initiative in Nigeria in past many years especially because of its bottom-up approach.
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