FIC Report (Imo State) – To actualize President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s resolve to tackle food insecurity and unemployment in the country, the Federal Government of Nigeria ( FGN), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Imo State Government and International Fund For Agricultural Development (IFAD) have jointly funded Livelihood Empowerment Family Enterprise -Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) project and disbursed Starter Capital to 900 Incubatees in Imo state.
The flag-off of the disbursement of the Starter Capital for the second and third batches of the Incubatees which took place in Owerri, Imo State was attended by the Imo Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma represented by the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Chief Cosmas Maduba, officials of funding bodies, traditional and community leaders as well as other stakeholders.
The major aim of this initiative includes; improving income, food security, crime reduction and job creation through agribusiness advancement in the nine Niger Delta states ; Abia, Bayalsa, Cross River,,Ondo , Delta, and Edo under (IFAD Coverage) and Akwa-Ibom, Imo and Rivers for (NDDC Coverage).
While flagging off the ceremony, the Imo state governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma who was represented at the event by the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Chief Cosmas Maduba declared that he was satisfied with the first batch beneficiaries of the programme who are already enjoying full agribusiness enterprise ownership in different fields.
He went further to state that this initiative is a very feasible and potent empowerment programme assisted by the state government for the teeming youth and women in selected rural communities in the state.
Earlier, the Imo State project coordinator of LIFE – ND, Mrs Victoria Igboanugo, in her remarks, expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, the leaderships of NDDC, IFAD, the Imo state government and other relevant stakeholders for the sustenance of this empowerment initiative.
She noted that the scheme was earmarked for youth between the ages of eighteen (18) and thirty-five (35) and women not above fifty (50) years.
She expressed optimism that with the provision of starter kits, essential tools and capital grant, the beneficiaries are equipped to start their own agribusiness ventures with close mentorship by their lead Incubators.
Mrs Igboanugo further explained that the Incubatees are linked to various input dealers who sell at fair prices adding that sixty-eight (68) persons out of the second and third batches of Incubatees are People With Disabilities (PWD).
She then admonished them against misuse of the capital as measures have been put in place to monitor and prosecute those who divert the funds.
Speaking, the National Agribusiness Promotion Coordinator, Mrs Anthonia Esenwa, noted that the project marked another strategic milestone in their joint efforts to empower rural youth and women through sustainable agriculture related ventures, adding that the programme was not just to train people but also equip them with the required skills, discipline and resources needed to grow as well.
She commended their commitment and resilience on the successful completion of the incubation programme, stressing that the starter capital given to them should be used judiciously for its purposes.
Akushie Chioma Mark Helen
HOC
FIC Owerri, Imo state
11/3/2026
