Over 350 Youths Trained as NDDC Inspect Impact of LIFE-ND Enterprise Project in Rivers

Youth and rural dwellers in Rivers State are beginning to reap the rewards of the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises Project in the Niger Delta (Life-ND) as the National Project Coordinating Office of the NDDC embarked on an inspection tour across several communities to assess the progress of the initiative’s first batch.

The visit, which covered 12 communities across five local government areas, revealed a vibrant display of skills, innovation, and business readiness among the 350 incubatees who have been trained under the project in areas such as aquaculture and poultry.

The Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) is being funded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Federal Government.

Speaking during the visit to the centres on Wednesday, June 24, 2025, the Rivers State Project Coordinator, Loveday Itatat expressed satisfaction with the implementation so far.

 “We’ve reached 66 communities in just six to eight months. The first batch involved 350 incubatees and 25 incubators. We have now selected the second batch and are currently profiling them”.

” Hopefully, results will be out by the first week of July, and we are targeting an additional 500 youths”.

According to Itatat, the purpose of the inspection was to provide evidence that the initiative is yielding tangible results.

“We met the incubatees on ground; they showed us what they’ve learnt. It’s real, and the impact is visible. The youth are eager, asking when the next batch will start. This shows our effort is not in vain.”

Incubation centres visited included aquaculture hubs, poultry farms, with various categories such as fish production, processing, marketing, brood and sell, broilers.

 One of such location was Megalakes Fish Farm in Ogu Bolo, where Ayinde Peter, the Farm Manager, stated,

“We have the capacity to handle over three million tilapias at once. Thirty incubatees are currently being trained here, and the turnout has been impressive.”

Also speaking, Assistant Director at NDDC and the organisation’s representative on the project, Stella Manureh described the visit as a technical oversight function.

 “We asked the incubatees questions. They were confident, knowledgeable, and grateful for the training they’ve received. It’s important we see things ourselves since NDDC is the donor and head of the technical support committee.”

At Defaka-Ama and Ozu-ochie in Opobo/Nkoro LGA, the State Agric Promotions Officer, Jemina Hosefall confirmed that the apprenticeship stage has been completed for both short and long-term incubatees.

“In Ozu-ochie, we trained 14 incubatees in poultry, and in Defaka-ama, 10 were trained in aquaculture and fish marketing. Some have already received funds to begin their mentorship phase”.

The trainees known as incubatees on the programme expressed thanks to NDDC for the training with high hopes to establish theirs.

 Mary Ishmael from Ogu/Bolo, in fish production department, described how the programme gave her the skills to be able to manage her own fish pond in the future.

 “The training has been amazing. I’ve learnt many things, how to produce how to, sort, and how to manage my own pond when I have one, I’m grateful to NDDC, IFAD, and Federal Government for organising this program for us,” she said, despite sharing her personal struggle with physical strain during sorting.

Also, Ereyika Harrison in fish processing revealed how the project helped her not only process and spice fish but also develop a brand and register her business.

 “Before, I was just selling fish. Now I can keep records and teach others,” she said proudly.

Darling Oruitemeka in fish marketing, said the training changed her perspective. “I now understand the importance of keeping records, marketing on social media, and growing my business to reach rural areas where fish is scarce.”

 Chief Executive Officer of Agiotedem Farms and incubator in Bolo Town, Gordon Amangabara who’s centre serves as an incubation site, praised the trainees’ dedication.

“Their commitment shocked me. We even added a marketing module to empower them further. The only challenge we face is electricity and lack of cold storage,” he noted.

Incubatees like Ben-Iwo Charity and Isaiah Ibim in poultry farming spoke passionately about their newly acquired skills.

 “I now know how to handle chicks, clean the brooding room, and even what to wear to the farm,” said Charity.

“I sabi pick egg and plant tomato,” added Ibim joyfully.

The LIFE-ND project is designed to reduce youth unemployment, enhance food security, and empower rural families across the Niger Delta through sustainable agriculture and agribusiness.

The program targeted 4,250 beneficiaries in each of the participating states ofAkwa Ibom, Imo, and Rivers over the six-year implementation window of the first phase.

Each state has its priority commodities: Cassava, Oil Palm, Poultry, and Aquaculture for Akwa Ibom; Cassava, Rice, Poultry, and Aquaculture for Imo; and Cassava, Plantain, Poultry, and Aquaculture for Rivers. These are implemented across the full agricultural value chain of production, processing, and marketing.

Every enterprise has its own gestation period, which determines how long trainees spend in the apprenticeship phase. Once completed, incubatees move into the mentorship stage, where they apply what they’ve learnt under close guidance. Upon successful completion, the project offers them financial support referred to as working capital to help them launch their own businesses.

This recent field exercise is part of a routine oversight tour by the Niger Delta Development Commission, under its current Managing Director, Samuel Ogbuku, who is said to have committed about $5 million USD to the project within the last one year.

The Managing Director has reportedly mandated a joint team comprising NDDC staff and Life-ND’s national and state representatives to visit incubation centres, assess progress, identify challenges, and document best practices for possible upscaling.

With the first batch nearing completion and preparations for the second batch well underway, there’s growing optimism among rural dwellers that the initiative will not only transform their livelihoods but build agripreneurs ready to feed and lead the communities.