The Edo State coordinator, Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise, Niger Delta, Mr John Omoruyi, yesterday said Governor Monday Okpebholo’s appropriation of a whooping sum of N1.6 billion for the implementation of LIFE -ND in developing agriculture in the state is capable of generating over 2000 jobs in the sector.
Omoruyi stated this in Benin City while speaking on the impact and activities of the programme. He also described Okpebholo’s appropriation of N70 billion in the agricultural sector in the 2025 budget as unprecedented in the history of Nigeria, adding that the trickle effect would tackle poverty and empower rural dwellers in the state.
He noted that the project which is co-sponsored by the Federal Government of Nigeria, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC and International Fund for Agricultural Development, (IFAD) in collaboration with the Edo State Government cut across the nine states in Niger Delta.
He said, “The broad objective is to promote rural economy through agric-business whereby women and youths of between 18 to 35 years trained, and supported using the incubation model. For example, a typical Igbo businessman 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, Senator 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 have been voted for Life-ND plus because of the scope of the donor funded project which covers only 10 local government in Edo state, so the governor’s intervention will now cover the remaining 8 local government areas in the state.
“In his magnanimity, the fund he appropriated will cover the 8 non-participating LGAs in the state, which means over 2000 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”.
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