FIC REPORT (IMO STATE) – The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), in collaboration with the Imo State Government, has continued to advance agricultural development and livelihood improvement through its support for the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises – Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) Project, with 200 additional beneficiaries recently enrolled under the programme’s fourth batch in Imo State.
The newly selected beneficiaries were formally introduced to the programme during an orientation exercise held at Newton Hotel, Owerri. The exercise was designed to familiarise participants with the project’s objectives, expectations and support framework for establishing sustainable agribusiness enterprises.
The Imo State Project Coordinator, Chief (Mrs.) Victoria Igboanugo, disclosed that 1,403 beneficiaries had previously been trained and empowered under the first three batches of the project. With the enrolment of the additional 200 participants, the total number of beneficiaries reached by the programme in Imo State has risen to 1,603.
She explained that the latest beneficiaries were selected from a pool of 1,021 applicants through an electronic selection process, demonstrating the project’s structured approach to identifying participants for its agricultural livelihood intervention.
The orientation programme featured sessions on critical areas of agribusiness development, including climate change awareness, nutrition mainstreaming, record-keeping, gender inclusion, the application of technology in agriculture and enterprise management.
The Project Coordinator emphasised the importance of effective mentorship and support from incubators, urging them to provide the necessary guidance to enable the new participants to develop viable and sustainable agricultural enterprises. She also charged the beneficiaries to demonstrate discipline, commitment and dedication throughout the programme.
In its goodwill message, the NDDC reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the LIFE-ND Project in Imo, Rivers and Akwa Ibom States, noting that equipping young people with practical agricultural and enterprise development skills would contribute significantly to income generation, food security and employment creation.
The Permanent Secretary, Imo State Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Alexander Onwumere, who represented the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, commended the Project Coordinator and her team for their efforts in advancing the programme in the state.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Chioma Nwosu, expressed appreciation for the intervention, describing it as an opportunity for participants to acquire relevant skills and establish sustainable agricultural enterprises.
The Project Coordinator also acknowledged the contributions of the LIFE-ND National Project Coordinator and team, the NDDC and the Imo State Government under the leadership of Governor Hope Uzodimma towards the successful implementation of the programme.
The LIFE-ND Project remains an important intervention for strengthening agricultural livelihoods, promoting agribusiness and expanding economic opportunities in participating Niger Delta communities. The continued support of the NDDC, alongside the Imo State Government, underscores the importance of institutional collaboration in advancing agricultural development and improving livelihoods.
CHIKA ANURUNWA
ACIPRO/ANIPR
10/11/2026
