In line with Abia State government commitment to food security, job creation and sustainable income, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Cliff Agbaeze, has revealed government’s resolve to the payment of state counterpart fund to Abia Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises, Niger Delta, LIFE-ND, a project sponsored by Federal Government, International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD and Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.
Dr Agbaeze disclosed this on Tuesday, October 28, at the orientation ceremony organized in Umuahia, to educate the 350 selected incubatees, (trainees), including 47 incubators, (trainers), on ethical discipline and modern farming practices in the Project.
Emphasizing government’s commitment to counterpart fund, Agbaeze said,
“The first thing we did when I became a commissioner was to provide counterpart fund. We must provide our own counterpart fund. There was a freeze in the programme; it’s coming up now. It’s in process. You know the Excellency will always do things and do it well”.
Revealing similar commitment to a sister project, Agbaeze said the Governor had paid the sum of N500m to catalyse an arrangement with the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, NEPAD, and West African Union Development Agency, the flag-off being held “few weeks back.”
He stated the government’s paradigm shift from ancient agro practices to a modern method, insisting on empowering determined “army of well-trained youth” to produce food in abundance for the state.
Mrs Ngozi Ohaechesi
The National Admin and Logistics officer
Representing the National Project Coordinator, Engr Dr Sanni Abiodun, the Coordinator, Admin and Logistics, Mrs Ngozi Ohaechesi, commended the transparent process of selecting the trainees, having evolved from local stakeholders; Community Development Chairmen, women and youth leaders and Local Government Desk Officers.
Giving details, Ohaechesi said the empowerment is a 3-year repayable loan through the Commodities’ Apex Development Association, CADA, with a moratorium period of one year, noting that compliance to the payment would create opportunities for other beneficiaries in the state.
Uchenna Rowland Onyeizu, Ph.D, CEnv
Abia LIFE-ND State Project Coordinator
Addressing journalists, State Project Coordinator, Uchenna Rowland Onyeizu, Ph.D, CEnv, said the orientation was a major process before empowering any potential beneficiary.
He said the process involves discipline of trainees at their various training centres, financial literacy, knowledge of training processes, modern practices in farming and the need for financial sustenance, adding that stipends are provided, even when the training centres are located in their communities.
He enjoined other selected communities to exercise patience, promising their inclusion in 2026.
Godwin Chukwuekezie
State Agribusiness Officer
The State Agribusiness Officer, Godwin Chukwuekezie, said the orientation comprises selected successful trainees from six Local Government Areas, Ohafia, Bende, Umuahia South, Isialangwa South and Aba South, noting that a major exercise of signing Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, will be key for legal implications.
Mr John Okechukwu
Representing State Director NDDC, Dr. Anderson Uken
Abia LIFE-ND has recorded success stories of empowering 4,250, beneficiaries in Cassava, Poultry, oil palm and rice production and processing, including their various value chains and marketing in the last six years of the project implementation.
Group picture of participants
