By Felicia Imohimi
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) says it facilitated the establishment of 24,000 youth-led agribusinesses in the Niger Delta.
The feat was achieved under the Federal Government/IFAD Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in Niger Delta (LIFE-ND).
IFAD Country Director, Dede Ekoue, said this at a meeting on the Scaling Up Youth Agripreneurship in Nigeria for Food Systems Transformation exercise, in Abuja.
The event is being organised by the Federal Government, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and the LIFE-ND.
Ekoue said the achievement was recorded through structured apprenticeship, mentorship and innovative support for youth and women.
She said the Federal Government responded to the imperative of youth agri entrepreneurship by scaling up and extending the financing of successful FGN/IFAD/NDDC-LIFE-ND programme.
The director said the recent launch of Nigeria’s Youth Mapping Report, ahead of the 2nd United Nations Food Systems Summit Stocktake (UNFSS+4), highlighted the contributions and innovations of over 6,000 young individuals across the food system.
She said the model highlighted the food system from production and processing to climate-smart agriculture and digital technology.
“Notably, over half of the surveyed youth are engaged in agribusinesses, yet they continue to face challenges related to land access, financing, and market entry.
“In alignment with the priorities of the Renewed Hope Agenda and the National Agriculture Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP), the Federal Government is responding to these challenges.
“The response is through increased public-private partnership and targeted investments in agro-entrepreneurship, and a steadfast commitment to evidence-based, youth-inclusive food system transformation strategy,” she said.
According to Ekoue, the LIFE-ND programme is anchored on five pillars including incubation, public private producer partnerships, digital integration, inclusion of women, youth, persons with disabilities and sustainability.
She said the project was operating across multiple value chains in crop production, livestock, aquaculture, and agro-processing in the Niger Delta with the support of the Federal Government, NDDC and state governments.
Ekoue reiterated commitment to scale up youth agro-entrepreneurship through the LIFE-ND programme, and other investment programmes such as the Special Agro-industrial Processing Zones, and the Value Chain Development Programme.
“This commitment is through our grant financed programme the Agribusiness Hubs Programme,” she said.
She said the meeting would deliberate on scaling up the proven LIFE-ND model for youth-driven transformation of the agrifood system.
“The forum is a unique opportunity to leverage LIFE-ND’s successful experience that shows bundled integration practical agri-entrepreneurship skills, finance, technology and infrastructure.
“It is also to leverage market connections and ensure youth leadership delivers far greater results than piecemeal efforts,” she said.
Ekoue tasked stakeholders on scaling up investment in youth entrepreneurship, agro-entrepreneurship capacity building, championing youth, women inclusion, among others.
She said the measures would scale up LIFE-ND programme and model in the Niger Delta and across Nigeria.
“Together, let us harness the energy and innovation of youth agrientrepreneurs as a driving force for building productive, inclusive and sustainable agrifood systems in Nigeria.
“Together with youth agripreneurs, we can transform agriculture into a driver of prosperity and resilience.” (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Rabiu Sani-Ali
