As the implementation of IFAD Additional Financing kicks off, the Coordinator of Abia Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises, Niger Delta, LIFE-ND, Uchenna Rowland Onyeizu, Ph.D, CEnv, has commended Dr Governor Alex Otti for introducing farmers database that aided the Project’s innovation of Business Development Services, (BDS).
Dr Cliff Agbaeze, Commissioner for Agriculture. Abia State
BDS is an initiative of International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD, to encourage smart agriculture, using digital technology for informed decision in resource management, efficiency and optimizing farming production.
Onyeizu said the BDS innovation was facilitated by the database of Ministry of Agriculture, not only providing access to established farmers across the state, but also creating online outreach world over.
“It’s great and I thank the Governor, His Excellency, Dr Alex Otti, who has supported the process. It was very innovative. It’s about mainstreaming ICT to agriculture, making agricultural activities smarter and innovative for food security”.
Uchenna Rowland Onyeizu, Ph.D, CEnv, State Project Coordinator
Complimenting the innovation, Onyeizu said the national staff had verified and validated the established farmers in the Local Government Areas and communities in the state for education, capacity building workshops, “software support, linkages, to credit facilities, to make them spend less, but produce more”, promising that the exercise would be held in batches.
He equally thanked Commissioner for Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Cliff Agbaeze, for initiating the ingenuous method of farmers’ accessible database to enhance the Governor’s food security policy, requesting the support of the ministry in the supervision of this innovation.
Mrs Ngozi Ohaechesi, LIFE-ND National Coordinator, Admin, Logistics
The LIFE-ND National Coordinator, Admin, Logistics, Mrs Ngozi Ohaechesi, who was in the state to monitor the exercise, ranked the performance of Abia LIFE-ND staffers high, for easy compliance to the somewhat complex method of populating the template.
Mr Ayodele Ogunleye, National IT Expert
Speaking on the challenges, the National IT Expert, Mr Ayodele Ogunleye advised on the procurement of quality laptops to accommodate the attendant multiple activities that would be associated with the IFAD Additional Financing.
The verification and validation by National LIFE-ND Officers of established farmers in the state commenced on October 11, 2025.
Group picture of LIFE-ND staff with Mrs Ngozi Ohaechesi, LIFE-ND National Coordinator, Admin, Logistics and Mr Ayodele Ogunleye, National IT Expert
