Bayelsa: LIFE-ND commences  Agribusiness Devt training 

By Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa

The Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises Project in the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND), Bayelsa State  has commenced a six days workshop training on Agri business development for Incubators and Incubatees for four local government areas captured in the first phase of the project.

In her remark, Dr. Chinwe Onyegbula, National Liaison Officer of Life-ND  explained that the  LIFE-ND is a project of the Federal Government which objective is to enhance income, food security and job creation for rural youth and women, through agri-business enterprise development on sustainable basis in the Niger Delta region.

Dr. Chinwe reveals that, the main target are the unemployed and underemployed youths within the age bracket of 18 and 35 as well as women headed households with children under the age of 15 and who are willing to engage in production, processing and marketing of selected commodities in the region.

Dr.Chinwe made this known while kick starting a six day training workshop for Incubators and Incubatees at Bioresource Development Centre, Odi in Kolokuma/ Opokuma local government area of Bayelsa State.

She stated that, cassava, plantain, fish farming and poultry were chosen base on their nutritional and comparative benefits to the state, adding that the six days workshop training will afford incubators and incubatees the opportunity to gain  entrepreneurial knowledge and skills.

She noted that LIFE-ND is an intiative of federal ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in collaboration with Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to boost food production in the Niger Delta.

She enjoined the trainees to participate actively in the training exercise as it would create employment and reduce poverty in the region.

She said about 45% of youths are unemployed or under-employed across the country which has contributed to the increased in the rate of insecurity, which necessitated the federal government to launch this intiative to train youths and women to be self-reliant and self employed. She added that the program will bring youths out of poverty.

In his remark, the State Project Coordinator, Dr. Panebi Ugo said, Life-ND was established to improve the life of rural farmers, create job opportunities for our teeming youths and address youth restiveness in the Niger Delta region.

Dr. Ugo urged the trainees to be serious in the training program, stressing that the program will make them self-reliant and employer of labour.

The state project coordinator said, 25 incubators and 125 Incubatees were selected from four local government area in the state.

He enjoined the trainees never to be panic as nobody will be shortchanged in the training session, adding that it is a six years program targeted at increasing food production in the region.

Some of the trainees who spoke with our Correspondent, expressed appreciation to IFAD, NDDC and Bayelsa state government for initiating this life changing program.

Mr. Igele Ikpiri said, he will ensure that, he put in the knowledge acquired in practical application, by setting up a standard poultry farm in the state.

While Israel Chin Fedrick said the initiative will improve the livelihood of youths and ensure that youths will become employers of labour rather depending on white collar jobs.

 The training program  which started on the 12th of oct. 2020 will come to an end on the 17 th og oct. 2020.

Pixs:R-L: Dr. Chinwe Onyegbula, National Liaison Officer of Life-ND, the State Project Coordinator, Dr. Panebi Ugo at the training workshop recently in Odi, Bayelsa State.