By Godspower Eguasa
The Edo State Coordinator of Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise, Niger Delta (Life-ND), Mr. John Omoruyi has disclosed that the Governor Monday Okpebholo’s appropriation of the sum of N1.6 billion for the implementation of LIFE-ND agriculture development is capable of generating over 2,000 jobs in the State.
Omoruyi stated this in Benin City while speaking on the impact and activities of the programmes. He described Governor Okpebholo’s appropriation of N70 billion in the agricultural sector in the 2025 budget as unprecedented in the history of the State, adding that the trickle effect would tackle poverty and empower rural dwellers.
He noted that the project which is co-sponsored by the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), in collaboration with the Edo State Government, cuts across the nine states of the Niger Delta in Nigeria.
He said, “The broad objective is to promote rural economy through Agric business whereby women and youths of between 18 to 35 years are trained and supported, using the incubation model. For example, a typical Igbo business man will set up a business, gets trainees and after years of training, they now set them up and that is where the incubation model was captured from; so that every youth will become an entrepreneur by doing agricultural business which will eventually up hold their household, productivity, income, nutrition and otherwise.
“The present Governor, Sen. Monday Okpebholo has struck a landslide achievement and is unprecedented in Nigeria for a governor to vote in a whooping sum of N70 billion on agriculture in which N1.6 billion has been voted for Life-ND Plus. Because the scope of the donor funded project covers only 10 local government in Edo State, so the Governor’s intervention will now cover the remaining eight local government areas in the State.
“In his magnanimity, the fund he appropriated will cover the eight non-participating LGA’s in the State, that means over 2,000 jobs will be created in agriculture in 2025 and based on the present economic situation, agriculture is the way out to ensure food security, employment and job creation of rural people”.
