LIFE-ND Transforms Rural Livelihoods for Women and Youth in Edo State

The Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) project has become a model for empowering rural women and youths in Edo State. Backed by the Federal Government, NDDC and IFAD, the initiative promotes sustainable agriculture and agribusiness across nine Niger Delta states. Since Edo joined LIFE-ND in July 2020, more than 4,300 beneficiaries have received hands-on training, mentorship and funding in value chains like rice, cassava, poultry and fisheries. The state government has allocated N1.6 billion in next year’s budget and approved new farmland to expand cluster farming and create an estimated 2,000 additional jobs. Beyond training and finance, the project has delivered 28 processing centres and farm clusters. Beneficiaries such as poultry farmer Grace Nwaozuzu and fish processor Efe Ehanire report significant income gains and improved living standards. Stakeholders say LIFE-ND’s focus on climate-resilient farming and market linkages offers a sustainable path to food security and youth employment in the Niger Delta.

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