Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s administration says Ondo will partner relevant agencies to enhance food sufficiency by ensuring massive food production in the state.

Deputy Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa said this at the graduation ceremony and disbursement of working capital to 260 trained women and youths by IFAD-LIFE-ND Project on Thursday in Akure.

The trainees received training on cocoa, cassava, fishery and poultry.

The Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) is a project sponsored by International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in partnership with Niger Delta Development Commission (NDCC).

The deputy governor, represented by his chief of staff, Segun Omojuwa, restated the government’s passion for the project.

The programme aims to transform the rural economy by ensuring food security and job creation for rural youths and women.

He explained that Mr Akeredolu approved the payment of the counterpart fund to enhance the programme’s success.

Mr Aiyedatiwa added that the government had taken measures to secure the state from the menace of herdsmen and bandits with the introduction of Amotekun to give the ”incubatees” a secured platform to operate.

“The project’s overall goal is to transform the rural economy in which the rural population can derive prosperity and equal benefits. It will also enhance income, food security and job creation for rural youths and women through agribusiness enterprise development on a sustainable basis in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria,” he said.

The commissioner for agriculture and forestry, Olatayo Aribo, also mentioned that the programme would increase job creation, income generation, food security and foreign exchange, both at local and international levels.

“This is no doubt a unique ceremony in our state, where 260 incubatees disaggregated to 123 females and 137 males would graduate after receiving training in four major Agribusiness enterprises,” he stated.

IFAD coordinator in Ondo, Olawale Ademola, said the organisation aimed to continue to support agricultural development by empowering youths. 

(NAN)