The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has launched an initiative to empower over 25,500 youths and women in agricultural entrepreneurship throughout the Niger Delta region. This significant project aims to foster self-reliance and sustainability among participants.

During a technical working session focused on Group Savings and Loan Management, held in Owerri, Imo State, National Project Coordinator Dr. Abiodun Sanni shared insights with the media. The session, part of the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises Niger Delta project, is funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

Dr. Sanni, represented by his Technical Assistant, Mr. Bunmi Ogunleye, emphasized that participants were selected from the six states within the Niger Delta region. “This initiative encompasses states that will benefit from a $60 million loan provided by IFAD,” he noted. The project, which commenced in 2019, spans two phases over a total of 12 years, with the first phase already underway.

The six states involved since 2019 include Abia, Bayelsa, Ondo, Cross River, Edo, and Delta. Recently, in 2024, Imo, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers joined the program, bringing the total number of participating states to nine.

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The core objective of this initiative is to empower youths and women by enhancing their skills in agricultural entrepreneurship. Sanni explained that the empowerment initiative focuses on key commodities, such as cassava, plantain, fish, rice, cocoa, oil palm, and poultry.

The project emphasizes a comprehensive approach to empowerment that includes various stages of the agricultural value chain, including production, processing, and marketing. Participants will receive training to improve their record-keeping and documentation skills, enabling them to share this knowledge with others in their communities.

“Participants in this program are primarily unemployed or underemployed individuals residing in rural areas,” Sanni stated.

National Financial Inclusion Specialist Obiageli Ekwelie added that participants undergo training under experts specializing in specific commodities, correlating with the gestation period of those products.

Upon completing the training, participants will be equipped to run successful businesses with startup capital. They will also learn to enhance their saving habits, improve their credit ratings with financial institutions, and effectively document their business activities.