Abuja: Ms Dede Ekoue, the Country Director of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), has highlighted the significant impact that Cross River is having on the IFAD LIFE-ND project in Nigeria. Ekoue made these comments during the inauguration and handover of open market stalls, a toilet, and a solar-powered borehole in Uruandung Community, located in the Akpabuyo Local Government Area (LGA) of Cross River.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the IFAD-assisted Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise in the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) project is a collaborative effort involving the Federal Government, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and Cross River. The project targets rural communities, aiming to empower unemployed and underemployed youths aged 18 to 35, female-headed households, and people with disabilities, improving their income and food security. The initiative is currently operational in 10 LGAs within the state.
Ekoue noted that the first phase of the program had successfully trained 26,000 agricultural entrepreneurs in the state. She added that the upcoming second phase is set to expand, potentially benefiting approximately 100,000 individuals. She commended the Cross River government for its prompt disbursement of counterpart funds and effective leadership, which have enhanced the project’s quality in the state.
She further remarked, “We have just handed over a market infrastructure to Uruandung Community to support the development of agriculture as a business because there is a lot of agricultural production here. We had to support our incubatees who were trained by LIFE-ND when they asked for an evacuation point for their produce such as poultry, cassava, and palm oil. We are satisfied and from what I have heard from members of the community, this project is fit for purpose.”
Mr. Johnson Ebokpo, the Cross River Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, praised the need-based nature of the projects. He emphasized the importance of consulting with the community when planning projects, stating that the state government, in collaboration with the community, will work on expanding the market size as part of broader efforts to facilitate produce evacuation.
Dr. Abiodun Sanni, the National Project Coordinator of the FGN/IFAD/LIFE-ND, asserted that the projects are a testament to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He mentioned that the community now benefits from an open market stall, a toilet facility, and a solar-powered borehole, all prioritized infrastructure requested by the community to bolster agro-entrepreneurship.
Mr. Ephraim Eyo, the Community Relations Officer for Akpabuyo LGA, expressed gratitude on behalf of Uruandung Community. He assured that the community would protect and ensure the sustainability of the newly established infrastructure.