The Edo State Government, in collaboration with the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND), has commenced the training of 630 young people in agribusiness across the state.
Governor Monday Okpebholo, represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Jerry Uwangue, disclosed this on Tuesday in Benin City. He said the initiative aligns with his administration’s agricultural development agenda.
The beneficiaries of the programme include women and persons with disabilities.
According to the governor, the objectives of the IFAD LIFE-ND project align perfectly with his administration’s vision of nurturing young farmers who can transform subsistence farming into profitable agribusiness ventures.
“The project will transform Edo into a hub of modern agriculture and enhance food security,” Okpebholo said.
He commended the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Federal Government, through the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), for their continued partnership and support.
Okpebholo noted that the project has continued to empower rural youths and women to engage meaningfully in agriculture, stressing that his administration has repositioned agriculture as the cornerstone of its Agricultural Transformation and Food Security Policy.
He added that the government has prioritized agricultural mechanization, youth empowerment, job creation, rural development, and industrialization.
“With 630 incubatees participating, we are not just training individuals; we are breeding a new generation of innovators, leaders, and wealth creators who will drive Edo State toward self-sufficiency in food production,” the governor said.
He assured that the government remains committed to supporting all LIFE-ND beneficiaries through improved access to inputs, extension services, value chain development, and market linkages.
“We are integrating LIFE-ND initiatives into the broader state agricultural transformation framework to ensure sustainability beyond donor support. As a government, we will continue to provide an enabling environment for agribusiness to thrive through policies that encourage mechanization, irrigation, access to finance, and private-sector collaboration,” he added.
Edo Project Coordinator of LIFE-ND, Mr. John Omoruyi, lauded the governor’s commitment to strengthening food security and youth empowerment in agriculture, noting that large hectares of land would be made available for beneficiaries.
“Many youths will be trained along business lines in agriculture, and the governor is ensuring that the project is sustained across the 18 local government areas of the state,” Omoruyi said.
The Agribusiness Promotion Coordinator of the project, Mrs. Esenwa Anthonia, urged beneficiaries to take the training seriously, warning that those who fail to perform would be replaced.
Similarly, the National Coordinator of LIFE-ND, Dr. Abiodun Sanni, recalled that when the project started, some communities resisted its implementation, but today, many are eager to participate due to its impact.
Also speaking, the NDDC representative, Mrs. Osabuohien Clementina, cautioned beneficiaries against diverting funds meant for the project to other purposes.
