By Jubril Bada

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The National Project Coordinator of the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises Project for the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND), Dr. Sanni Abiodun, has revealed that about 3,500 youths in Ondo State have been empowered in the agricultural sector.

Abiodun made this disclosure during a courtesy visit to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, in Akure on Thursday.

He said the project, which is a collaboration among the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Federal Government and the host state, is currently in its 5th year.

According to him, “The LIFE-ND team was in the state for the 4th joint supervision mission.

The project coordinator described LIFE-ND as an agro-entrepreneurship project with the sole aim of ensuring that there is food security in the nation and enhance income generation.

Receiving the team, Ondo state deputy governor, Dr. Olayide Adelami, who represented the governor, thanked the team for “a wonderful job, and productive partnership with the state government.”

The governor reiterated the commitment of his administration to do more in all areas of agriculture, stating that food production and youth empowerment are key on his agenda.

The team later inspected ongoing project sites of already empowered youths, ranging from fishery to poultry, cassava mills and market stalls, among others.

Dr. Abiodun who revealed that close to $17 million has been expended on the project in Ondo State, added that the money was spent on providing requisite infrastructure and supporting incubatees in terms of capacity building and providing them the means of sustenance as entrepreneurs.

While saying 4,250 youths are targeted as beneficiaries, with 3,500 having already benefited from the program, the National Project Coordinator disclosed that he was impressed by the performance of the beneficiaries during supervision, which is an indication of the readiness of youths to contribute to food security.

The project sites and beneficiaries under LIFE-ND in Bolorunduro and Osi communities, all in Akure North Local Government, were supervised by teams from each organization.

Some of the agricultural products produced by the beneficiaries included oven-dried fish, plantain, sweet potato, fish oil, garden eggs, vegetables, cucumber, peanuts, groundnuts, and coconut, among others.

The State Project Coordinator, Prince Olawale Ademola, said the three financiers of the project were satisfied with the reports gathered on the project and its implementation in the state.