Abuja, Nigeria – The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has announced plans to scale up its Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises – Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) programme to create over 38,250 agripreneurs across the region, aiming to boost youth participation in agriculture and strengthen Nigeria’s food systems.
The announcement was made during a one-day workshop on Scaling Up Youth Agripreneurship for Food Systems Transformation, held at the Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja. The event, hosted by the LIFE-ND project, focused on promoting youth-led agribusiness as a driver of economic growth and food security in Nigeria.
Speaking at the workshop, NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, represented by Mrs Mary Nwaeke, Acting Director of the NDDC Liaison Office in Abuja, said Nigeria and the Niger Delta region have vast agricultural potential that can be harnessed to drive economic growth. He highlighted challenges such as food inflation, fragmented agricultural value chains, ageing farmers, climate vulnerabilities, and limited access to finance and modern technologies.
“These challenges are opportunities to nurture a new generation of agripreneurs who can transform rural economies. We are not just building farms; we are building futures. We are not just cultivating crops; we are cultivating prosperity,” Dr Ogbuku said.
He emphasized that the NDDC’s US$30 million counterpart funding demonstrates strong commitment to the LIFE-ND programme, which is expected to serve as a transformative platform unlocking economic opportunities for thousands of young people in the Niger Delta.
Earlier, Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to national food security and encouraged collaboration among stakeholders and development partners to ensure an effective food supply system.
In his remarks, Senator Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, commended NDDC, LIFE-ND, and other partners for supporting initiatives aimed at achieving national food security. He also praised the National Project Coordinator of LIFE-ND for ensuring programme sustainability and youth engagement.
The NDDC LIFE-ND programme, as announced, is set to empower thousands of youth agripreneurs, foster innovation, and revitalize rural economies across the Niger Delta, marking a strategic effort toward transforming Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
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