Life-ND Project

LIFE-ND National Project Coordinator Receives Warm Welcome from Cross River State Government at 2026 Farming Season Flag-Off. The National Project Coordinator of the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises–Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) Project, Engr. Abiodun Sanni, was formally received by the Cross River State Government, led by the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture, at the official Flag-Off Ceremony of the 2026 Farming Season and Distribution of Farm Inputs. The event, which marked the commencement of the new agricultural season, brought together key stakeholders, project beneficiaries, and government dignitaries. On behalf of the state government, Engr. Sanni presented a range of farm inputs to state program beneficiaries, underscoring the collaborative commitment to agricultural development and food security in Cross River State. Also present at the ceremony were the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture, other senior government officials, and key stakeholders from the agricultural sector. The National Project Coordinator was accompanied to the flag-off event by the State Project Coordinator of the Cross River State LIFE-ND Project. The flag-off ceremony highlighted the strong synergy between the LIFE-ND Project and the Cross River State Government in driving sustainable agricultural growth and empowering local farmers.

TRANSFORMING LIVES: FGN/NDDC/IFAD Assisted LIFE-ND Project empowers over 2,000 women, youth and PWDs on agribusiness in Akwa Ibom and Imo states. In a major push towards economic diversification and food security, the project has successfully trained and empowered over 2,000 beneficiaries across Akwa Ibom and Imo States. These hardworking individuals are no longer just farmers; they are agri-preneurs! ✅ They have received intensive training in high-demand value chains (Cassava, Poultry, Oil Palm, and Fishery). ✅ They were provided with essential starter packs. ✅ They are now on a path to financial independence, creating jobs for others in their communities. This initiative by the FGN, NDDC, and IFAD - Assisted LIFE-ND Project is proving that the future of the Niger Delta is green and prosperous. We are committed to ensuring that rural families can build sustainable businesses right at home. #LIFEND #Empowerment #Agriculture #Nigeria #AkwaIbom #ImoState #NDDC #IFAD #RuralDevelopment #YouthInAg #WomenFarmers #MakingADifference

The Support for Civic Education and Social Justice Initiative (SUCES) today conferred prestigious Awards of Excellence on key national leaders of the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises – Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) Project in recognition of their exemplary leadership, unwavering commitment, and outstanding contributions to sustainable rural development in Nigeria. The distinguished awardees include: Engr. Dr. Abiodun Fatai Sanni, National Project Coordinator Barr. Dr. Ian Gbinigie, National Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator Chief Mr. Mathew Erihma, National Financial Controller These honours acknowledge their strategic direction, dedication to transparency and accountability, and steadfast efforts in advancing youth empowerment, agribusiness development, and inclusive economic growth across the Niger Delta region. In addition to the individual recognitions, SUCES presented a special institutional award to the LIFE-ND Project as the Best Outstanding Agribusiness Project in Nigeria. This commendation underscores the project’s transformative impact in strengthening agricultural value chains, promoting enterprise development, and improving livelihoods among rural youth and women. The award ceremony was graced by all six (6) IFAD State Project Coordinators and the three (3) NDDC State Project Coordinators, alongside members of the National Project Management Team. The event also received significant media coverage, with representation from the private media sector and the Nigerian Television Authority in Rivers State. The recognition by SUCES serves as a testament to the LIFE-ND Project’s growing national relevance and its measurable contributions to agribusiness innovation, institutional excellence, and sustainable development in Nigeria.

This moment was a highlight of the high-level event in Abuja: the Honorable Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, commended the National Project Coordinator of the LIFE-ND Project Engr. Dr. Abiodun Sanni for his outstanding achievements. Senator Abubakar Kyari specifically praised the project's significant accomplishments in the Niger Delta region and its valuable contributions to the agricultural sector, poverty alleviation, youth empowerment and food security and in Nigeria as a whole.

Panel Discussion: Building Sustainable and Scalable Youth Agribusiness Models As part of the high-level event hosted in Abuja under the visionary leadership of Engr. Dr. Abiodun Sanni, a thought-provoking panel discussion was convened on the theme “Building Sustainable and Scalable Youth Agribusiness Models.” The session brought together leading experts, innovators, and youth agripreneurs to explore practical pathways for empowering young people within Nigeria’s agribusiness ecosystem. The panel featured Ms. Aline, Executive Manager of the IITA Youth-in-Agribusiness Project, who shared insights on youth-focused agribusiness development and institutional support mechanisms; Mr. David Edimu, Country Director of Digital Green, who highlighted the role of digital innovation, data-driven extension services, and technology adoption in transforming youth agribusinesses; and Dr. Mrs. Williams, a Green Agriculture Expert and Agribusiness Incubator, who emphasized climate-smart agriculture, sustainability, and incubation models that enable young entrepreneurs to scale successfully. Youth beneficiaries and agripreneurs also participated actively, sharing real-life experiences, challenges, and success stories from the field. The interactive dialogue underscored the importance of access to finance, mentorship, technology, and supportive policies in building resilient, profitable, and sustainable youth-led agribusiness enterprises. The panel reinforced the LIFE-ND Project’s commitment to fostering inclusive growth, innovation, and long-term economic opportunities for youth across the Niger Delta and beyond. Panelists Ms. Aline – Executive Manager, IITA Youth-in-Agribusiness Project Mr. David Edimu – Country Director, Digital Green Dr. Mrs. Williams – Green Agriculture Expert & Agribusiness Incubator Youth Beneficiaries / Agripreneurs

Presentation of the Communiqué | LIFE-ND High-Level Event – Abuja At the high-level event on Scaling up the Youth Agripreneurship Programme under the LIFE-ND Project, convened on December 9, 2025, the Director of Planning and Policy Coordination formally presented the event Communiqué, reinforcing a shared commitment to expanding youth agro-entrepreneurship in Nigeria. The event brought together senior government officials, private sector leaders, youth organizations, and development partners to scale youth agribusiness using LIFE-ND’s proven incubation and enterprise development model. During the opening session, the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, His Excellency Senator Abubakar Kyari, highlighted the remarkable successes of the LIFE-ND Project and its strong alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He emphasized youth as critical drivers of agricultural food systems transformation, noting the need to build ecosystems where collaboration eclipses competition and every young agripreneur has a fair opportunity to contribute to Nigeria’s national prosperity. The LIFE-ND Project continues to position youth agro-entrepreneurship as a powerful pathway for inclusive growth, food security, and sustainable livelihoods. #LIFEND #YouthInAgriculture #Agripreneurship #RenewedHopeAgenda #FoodSystemsTransformation #YouthEmpowerment #NigeriaAgriculture

KEYNOTE ADDRESS | Scaling Up Youth Agripreneurship for Food Systems Transformation Delivering the keynote address, the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security reaffirmed that youth agripreneurship is central to Nigeria’s economic diversification, food security, and climate-resilient food systems. Aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the Minister emphasized youth, innovation, and agribusiness modernization as critical drivers of national prosperity. He highlighted strategic commitments including: • Improved youth access to land and secure tenure • Youth-responsive blended finance mechanisms • Strengthened incubation, mentorship, and commercialization support • Scalable market systems and digital platforms • Climate-smart and sustainable agricultural practices • Data-driven monitoring of youth agripreneurship outcomes Addressing young Nigerians directly, the Minister called on them to seize emerging opportunities and lead the transformation of Nigeria’s agrifood sector, noting that from farm to table, digital innovation, data-driven decision-making, and agri-entrepreneurship are unlocking new pathways for jobs, value addition, and resilience. While acknowledging existing challenges such as limited access to finance, land, markets, and mentorship, he stressed that Nigeria’s youth remain the driving force for inclusive growth and a thriving agrifood system. #YouthInAgriculture #Agripreneurship #FoodSystemsTransformation #RenewedHopeAgenda #LIFEND #ClimateSmartAgriculture #NigeriaAgriculture

DOCUMENTARY SESSION & EXHIBITION TOUR | LIFE-ND High-Level Event A major highlight of the event was the Documentary Session and Exhibition Tour, featuring the official LIFE-ND Success Story Documentary spotlighting youth beneficiaries from the NDDC-funded states of Rivers, Imo, and Akwa Ibom. Screened for all invited guests, the documentary delivered a powerful visual narrative of transformation, resilience, and youth empowerment, showcasing how young agripreneurs are building sustainable enterprises across diverse commodities and business models. Through heartfelt testimonials, LIFE-ND incubatees expressed deep appreciation to: • His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR • The Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, CON • The Governors of Rivers, Imo, and Akwa Ibom States • IFAD and NDDC leadership • The LIFE-ND National and State Coordination Teams Beneficiaries shared inspiring stories of impact, including: • Business growth and increased income streams • Skills development, confidence building, and financial discipline • Lessons from incubation, mentorship, and enterprise development • Scaling strategies for long-term sustainability • Improved market access through structured value-chain support The documentary reaffirmed LIFE-ND’s role in turning youth potential into profitable, scalable agribusinesses and driving inclusive growth across the Niger Delta. #LIFEND #YouthEmpowerment #Agripreneurship #SuccessStories #FoodSystemsTransformation #NigerDelta #IFAD #NDDC

The moment the Honorable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari applauded an incubatee of the LIFE-ND Project from Rivers state at the High-Level Event after giving a great accolade to the president of the federation. It’s a wonderful moment for the LIFE-ND Project. The hall was on fire 🔥 at this point. #agriculture #nigerdelta #youthempowerment #agribusiness #LIFEND

Engr. Dr. Abiodun Sanni, National Project Coordinator of the LIFE-ND Project, recently hosted a high-level strategic engagement in Abuja, bringing together the State Project Coordinators of the LIFE-ND Project and the Honorable Commissioners for Agriculture and Food Security from the nine Niger Delta States. The meeting focused on strengthening collaboration, aligning state-level priorities with LIFE-ND objectives, and accelerating efforts toward youth agribusiness development, food security, and sustainable livelihoods in the Niger Delta. The engagement reaffirmed the collective commitment of federal and state stakeholders to deepen impact, scale innovations, and ensure effective implementation of LIFE-ND interventions across the region. #LIFEND #Agribusiness #YouthEmpowerment #FoodSecurity #NigerDelta #StakeholderEngagement

THE International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has called on the federal and state governments in Nigeria to invest more in agriculture not just to ensure food security but also to harness the potentials of the youths. The Country Director of IFAD, Mrs Dede Ekoue stated this yesterday in Benin City the Edo State capital at the 5th Supervision Mission of the Lifelihood Improvement Family Enterprises – Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) Project which is jointly funded by the Federal Government, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and IFAD. She said “Food sovereignty cannot be achieved without fully harnessing the potentials of the youth in agriculture. Youth has the largest population. So, LIFE-ND is aimed at empowering youth with practical skills using a model of business incubation. By the time they go through the incubation process, they come out as business owners. They are able to set up an agric business. Creating jobs for youths is the key to enabling growth; it is the key to peace; it is the key to development; it is the key to business growth.

FGN/NDDC/IFAD Assited LIFE-ND NPC Engr. Dr. Abiodun Sanni Inaugurates Distribution of Smoking Kilns in Rivers State During a working visit to Rivers State, National Project Coordinator Engr. Dr. Abiodun Sanni inaugurated the distribution of modern smoking kilns to LIFE-ND project beneficiaries. He emphasized that these energy-efficient kilns are a strategic initiative to enhance productivity, improve product quality, reduce waste and post harvest losses, and ultimately boost the income and livelihoods of beneficiaries in the aquaculture sector, reinforcing the project's commitment to agribusiness development in the Niger Delta.

Real stories. Real impact. Across Cross River State, the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Niger Delta Development Commission and International Fund for Agricultural Development-Assisted LIFE-ND Project is changing lives for good. From better food security to thriving agri-enterprises and new opportunities for youth and women. The transformation is visible in every community. Each success story is a reminder that with the right support, rural families can grow, thrive, and lead the change. #agriculture #ifad #nddc #agribusiness #nigerdelta #agriculturelife #lifend #foodforthefuture

The LIFE-ND Project has made significant strides in empowering communities, promoting sustainable development, and enhancing livelihoods in the Niger Delta Region. Through collaboration and dedication, we are witnessing a positive transformation that uplifts the spirit of independence and fosters hope for a brighter future. Happy New Month and Happy Independence to all the team members making this vision becoming a reality. Powered by: NPCO Team

Empowering Agriculture, Transforming Lives. The Deputy Governor of Ondo state, Dr. Olayide Adelami, Ondo state member representing Ilaje constituency II, Mrs. Olawunmi Fayemi-Obayelu at the commissioning of the Cassava Processing Mill in Mahintedo Community, Ilaje, Ondo state.

🚀 Through the LIFE-ND Project (an FGN/NDDC/IFAD-supported program), young people are empowered to launch new ventures in the Niger-Delta. Using the incubator model, beneficiaries gain entrepreneurial skills to grow their agribusiness. 🌱#Agriculture #NDDC #Agribusiness #Ifad

At the 2025 Nigerian Metrological Agency Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) themed "The Role of Early Warnings towards a Climate Resilient Aviation Industry for Sustainable Socio-Economic". @nimetnigeria #nddc #IFAD #Agriculture

A good will message from the beneficiaries of the Federal Government of Nigeria, Niger Delta Development Commission and International Funds for Agricultural Development-Assisted LIFE-ND Project currently undergoing apprenticeship and mentorship. #Agriculture #Unitednations #IFAD

A goodwill message from the beneficiaries of the Federal Government of Nigeria, Niger Delta Development Commission and International Funds for Agricultural Development - Assisted LIFE-ND Project currently undergoing apprenticeship and mentorship. #ifad #agriculture #empowerment