IFAD LIFE-ND: Cross River making impact, says country director
By Christian Njoku
Ms Dede Ekoue, the Country Director, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) says Cross River is driving transformational impact in its project in Nigeria.
Ekoue said this on Monday during the inauguration and hand-over of open market stalls, toilet and solar powered borehole in Uruandung Community, Akpabuyo Local Government Area (LGA) of Cross River.
The IFAD assisted Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise in the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) in collaboration with the Federal Government, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Cross River, is a project which targets rural communities.
The project which empowers unemployed and underemployed youths within the ages of 18 and 35 and female headed households, as well as people with disabilities to improve their income and food security, is ongoing in 10 LGAs of the state.
The country director said the first phase of the programme which trained 26,000 agric entrepreneurs in the state had been concluded, adding that the second phase, about to commence had been upscaled to accommodate about 100,000 beneficiaries.
She lauded the government of Cross River for prompt disbursement of its counterpart fund and leadership which had enhanced the quality of the project in the state.
“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, palm oil.
“We are satisfied and from what I have heard from members of the community, this project is fit for purpose,” she said.
Mr Johnson Ebokpo, Cross River Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, said that the fact that the projects were need-based was commendable.
According to him, gone are the days when projects are just cited without consultations with the community, adding that part of the broader approach to produce evacuation from the community is to expand the size of the market.
“This will be done by the state government in consultation with the community and this project which has been handed over to the council will be managed by the council,” he said.
On his part, Dr Abiodun Sanni, the National Project Coordinator of the FGN/IFAD/LIFE-ND, said that the projects were a demonstration of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said the community now had an open market stall, a toilet facility and a solar powered borehole which they requested for in terms of priority of infrastructure to drive agro entrepreneurship.
Mr Ephraim Eyo, the Community Relations Officer for Akpabuyo LGA, who spoke on behalf of the people of Uruandung Community, thanked the partners, adding that they would protect and ensure sustainability of the infrastructure. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams
Published By
Has also recently published
EntertainmentApril 15, 2025Brazy takes center stage as Spotify’s ‘EQUAL’ Africa artist
Economy/BusinessApril 15, 2025FG planning on offsetting N4trn debt owed GenCos – Power Ministry
HealthApril 15, 2025Anambra Govt. wants ban, legislation against use of industrial oxygen in hospitals
ForeignApril 15, 2025EU, Britain boost aid for Sudan at London conference
